Top Red Sox prospect Brayan Bello becomes first pitcher in International League this season to strike out 10 batters in multiple games

After dazzling in his Triple-A debut at Polar Park last Wednesday, Bello was back at it again for the WooSox as they went up against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs at Coca-Cola Park on Tuesday night.

Over six strong innings of work, the right-hander allowed just two earned runs while scattering three hits and two walks to go along with another 10 strikeouts. Of the 97 pitches he threw, 58 went for strikes and 20 of those were of the swing-and-miss variety.

The WooSox ultimately trounced the IronPigs by a final score of 13-2, allowing Bello to improve to a perfect 2-0 at the Triple-A level. In addition to the perfect record, the 23-year-old has struck out 20 of the first 49 batters he has faced for Worcester. His 40.8% strikeout rate would rank first among International League pitchers if he was qualified.

Originally signed by the Red Sox for just $28,000 as an international free agent coming out of the Dominican Republic in July 2017, Bello is now regarded by Baseball America as the top pitching prospect in Boston’s farm system as well as the 79th-ranked prospect in all of baseball.

Equipped with a high-octane fastball that can reach 96-98 mph and is complemented by a changeup and slider, Bello is coming off a 2021 campaign in which he was named the Sox’ Minor League Starting Pitcher of the Year. The 6-foot-1, 170 pound hurler was also added to the club’s 40-man roster in November.

Considering the fact that he is already on Boston’s 40-man roster, Bello could force his way into the major-leagues as soon as this season. If he continues to impress against a stiffer level of competition at Triple-A, the Red Sox may have little choice but to call him up before the year is over.