Red Sox top pitching prospect Brayan Bello will make his Triple-A debut for Worcester at Polar Park on Wednesday.
“The stuff is great and I knew that,” Red Sox pitching coach Dave Bush said about working with Bello in big league spring training camp. “I was most impressed with just his demeanor and calmness on the mound. Sometimes, first time in big league camp, first time around big leaguers, guys can be overwhelmed. And he didn’t seem to care at all. He was very comfortable, confident but not in a bad way. Just a very calm, normal way. I think that kind of attitude serves guys well because whenever he gets to the big leagues and the first situation is tough, I think he’s going to be fine. He’ll be under control and be able to work his way through it.”
Bush first saw Bello pitch at then-Low-A Greenville in 2019 when he served as Red Sox pitching coordinator of performance. He was immediately impressed with Bello’s quick arm. Bello’s body control and command also stood out.
“Those are skills that are hard to learn,” Bush said. “So when you see guys that have it — they have good stuff but they also have good body control — there are things you can work with and you can see a developmental path.”
Bello, who turned 23 on Tuesday, is ranked No. 84 on Baseball America’s Top 100 list. He throws a mid-to-upper 90s fastball.
His fastball — he’s throwing a four-seam fastball and two-seamer this year — has been in the 95-99 mph range this season.
His changeup, which he learned from Fernando Rodney, has late fade to different directions and he throws it with excellent arm speed. He also features a slider, a pitch the Red Sox especially wanted him to focus on last season.
He has had similar usage and results compared to last year with the slider but keeps getting better with shape and usage.
Both secondary pitches have the potential to be plus offerings.
He posted a 1.60 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and .138 batting average against in six starts at Portland. He threw a 7-inning no hitter May 5 and allowed just three hits in 6 scoreless innings in his final start at Portland on May 11.
“He’s come a long way,” Bush said. “His ability to command the baseball has gotten a lot better and his confidence in both offspeed pitches. There were times when the slider was good and the changeup wasn’t. And there were times with the changeup was good and the slider wasn’t. Now it seems like he’s gotten more consistent with both. The fastball velo has always been there. And he’s learning how to pitch.”
Seabold’ focus ‘is incredible’
Pitching prospect Connor Seabold struck out 11 in 6 scoreless innings for Worcester against Rochester on Sunday. He allowed just one hit and one walk.
“The focus he has this year is incredible,” said Red Sox reliever John Schreiber who spent much of April with Seabold in Worcester. “The mound work he puts in throughout the week before his starts has just been incredible. It’s been fun to watch him progress.”
Seabold has a 2.45 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and .179 batting average against in seven starts.
Seabold or Winckowski in the bullpen?
Seabold and Josh Winckowski, who are both in Worcester’s starting rotation, should be candidates for Boston’s bullpen.
Ryan Brasier, Matt Barnes and Hirokazu Sawamura are giving the Red Sox very little. It’s time to move on from at least one of them.
Murphy has 1.95 ERA
Chris Murphy lowered his ERA to 1.95 with 5 strong innings for Double-A Portland on Tuesday. He allowed just one run, three hits and one walk while striking out six.
The 23-year-old has 47 strikeouts in 37 innings. He has struck out 32% of the batters he has faced this season. Opponents are batting .154 against him.
Murphy throws his fastball up in the zone and tunnels his pitches, helping him get swing-and-miss.
Murphy induced a lot of swing-and-miss in the zone last year. He also throws a changeup, curveball and slider. He has an above-average spin rate.
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