Brayan Bello looks ready.
Not just ready in the abstract, not just “building toward it” the way spring training outings are usually framed.
Genuinely ready for the games to start counting.
Thursday’s 4-2 win over the Minnesota Twins was the latest example, and maybe the most convincing yet.
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Bello delivered six scoreless innings, striking out 7 while allowing just 3 hits and no walks. It was efficient, controlled, and at times overpowering – the kind of outing that felt less like a tune-up and more like a preview.
And it’s becoming a trend.
Over his last two starts since returning from the World Baseball Classic, Bello has been dominant: 12 innings, zero runs, 7 hits, 14 strikeouts, and, maybe most importantly, 0 walks.
Zoom out a bit further, and the turnaround becomes even clearer.
Feb 22, 2026; Fort Myers, Florida, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Brayan Bello (66) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at JetBlue Park at Fenway South. (Kim Klement Neitzel/Imagn Images)
After a rocky start to the spring, Bello has allowed just one earned run over his last 19 innings.
The stuff has always been there.
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Now, the command is catching up.
At one point Thursday, Bello generated swings and misses on three straight pitches (a changeup, a sinker, and a cutter) showcasing the full breadth of his arsenal. His curveball, in particular, continues to take a step forward, giving him another weapon to keep hitters off balance.
“[The curve] has progressed a lot,” Bello told the media postgame. “I feel like I command it wherever I want to throw it.”
That kind of confidence is hard to miss.
Behind him, the Red Sox offense did just enough.
Willson Contreras, fresh off his World Baseball Classic run, led the way in his return to the lineup, going 2-for-2 with a double, a walk, an RBI, and a run scored.
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It wasn’t an explosive day at the plate, but it didn’t need to be.
Not with Bello controlling the game.
Boston also got its first look at newly signed left-hander Danny Coulombe, who made his debut in the ninth inning.
The outing was a bit uneven, as an error helped lead to an unearned run, but Coulombe showed some swing-and-miss ability before handing things off to Tayron Guerrero to finish it.
For most of the afternoon, though, the focus stayed on the mound.
Because if this version of Brayan Bello carries over into the regular season, the Red Sox rotation might look a lot different than it did just a few weeks ago.
Mar 9, 2026; Miami, FL, United States; Dominican Republic pitcher Brayan Bello (66) reacts against Israel during the fifth inning at loanDepot Park. (Sam Navarro/Imagn Images)
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Tom Carroll is a contributor for Roundtable, with boots-on-the-ground coverage of all things Boston sports. He’s a senior digital content producer for WEEI.com, and a native of Lincoln, RI.
