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Injured Red Sox Pitcher on Schedule for Opening Day

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Miles Houston | Last updated Feb 28, 2025 5:00 PM ET

The Boston Red Sox got some good news on Friday, with starter Brayan Bello returning to baseball activities after being out for a few weeks.

Bello, who had been shut down for shoulder soreness, threw a light bullpen session on Friday. According to the righty, he is on track to be on the team’s opening-day roster when they open up the season against the Texas Rangers in Arlington.

The Red Sox will still take things slow with the hurler, as he was limited to around 80-90 mph. Bello is still a little ways away from making his 2025 debut in the Grapefruit League, telling MassLive’s Christopher Smith that a few more bullpens and live BP sessions are in order before he makes her full return.

While Bello has just begun his recovery journey, he is in good spirits. He tells Smith that he’s taking things day by day and is in a good place.

“The body’s good. The shoulders are good. The mechanics are good…Just taking it day-by-day but I felt good today.”

This news should excite Red Sox fans, as the righty is expected to be a key piece to this year’s pitching rotation. While struggling to open up the season, Bello pitched well down the stretch and was one of the very few pitchers who didn’t have a complete meltdown in the second half.

After the All-Star break, Bello got his act together. In 13 games started, he pitched to a 3.47 ERA and significantly improved his issues with home runs. In 72 innings, Bello surrendered just five home runners, a stark improvement to his first-half numbers, which saw him give up 15.

Hopefully, Bello can carry this momentum into 2025. A rotation featuring an in-form Bello with Garrett Crochet, Walker Buehler, and Tanner Houck would be a scary task for any opposing offense.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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