Red Sox's Brayan Bello Offers Hope Amid Rough Early-Season Struggles

The young pitcher believes he can turn things around despite a shaky start to the 2026 season.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 2:05pm

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A cubist-style painting featuring sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in deep red, navy blue, and forest green, depicting the fragmented motion and challenges of a baseball pitcher on the mound.A cubist interpretation of Red Sox pitcher Brayan Bello's early-season struggles, capturing the fractured nature of his performance on the mound.Boston Today

Boston Red Sox pitcher Brayan Bello has struggled in the early part of the 2026 MLB season, with a 1.93 ERA and opponents batting .312 against him in his first four starts. However, the 27-year-old believes he can turn things around, citing his ability to make adjustments and get back into a rhythm after a slow start last year.

Why it matters

The Red Sox are counting on their starting rotation to be the foundation of their success this season, so Bello's performance is crucial. If he continues to struggle, the team may have to consider bringing up top prospect Payton Tolle to take his place.

The details

In his fourth start on Saturday, Bello went only four innings, giving up four earned runs. He struggled with efficiency, needing 35 pitches to get through the first inning. Bello acknowledged he needs to be more aggressive early in counts and more competitive with two strikes to put hitters away.

  • Bello made his fourth start of the 2026 season on Saturday, April 19.
  • Last year, Bello also had a slow start but was able to turn things around.

The players

Brayan Bello

A 27-year-old starting pitcher for the Boston Red Sox who has struggled in the early part of the 2026 season.

Payton Tolle

A top prospect in the Red Sox organization who could be called up to the majors if Bello continues to struggle.

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What they’re saying

“Obviously, not happy, but I think I did the same thing last year. I didn't have the best start and I was able to turn it around. That's something I can do right now.”

— Brayan Bello, Red Sox Pitcher

“I still have a lot of starts in front of me and I'm capable of turning things around and making the necessary adjustments to get back to the groove and the rhythm of going deep into games.”

— Brayan Bello, Red Sox Pitcher

“With two strikes, I'm not being competitive in the zone. Early in the count, I'm not being aggressive enough. That's something I need to work on.”

— Brayan Bello, Red Sox Pitcher

What’s next

If Bello continues to struggle in the coming weeks, the Red Sox may have to consider bringing up top prospect Payton Tolle to take his place in the starting rotation.

The takeaway

Bello's early-season struggles are a concern for the Red Sox, who are counting on their starting rotation to be the foundation of their success this year. However, Bello's confidence in his ability to make adjustments and turn things around, as he did last season, offers hope that he can regain his form and solidify his spot in the rotation.