Yardbarker
x
The Lastest Red Sox Player Headed to the Injured List
Main Photo: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Another day, another important injury for the Boston Red Sox. The team can not catch a break right now, as it announced on Wednesday that Brayan Bello will head to the injured list with right lat tightness. In a corresponding move, Boston will call up right-hander Zack Kelly.

The Bello injury is the latest for the Red Sox to manage. The team lost first baseman Triston Casas this weekend with a rib fracture, Nick Pivetta with a right flexor strain, and Trevor Story with a shoulder injury. The team’s pitching depth is incredibly thin, but Boston has no choice but to figure it out for the next couple of weeks.

Brayan Bello Out with Right Lat Tightness

Bello is expected to be a mainstay atop the Red Sox rotation for years to come. The former top prospect pitched well in his rookie season last year and was rewarded with a contract extension this spring. The early results on the deal looked strong, as Bello performed well in 2024 before the injury.

Across five starts, Bello has tossed 26 2/3 innings with a 3.04 ERA. Though he has an around league-average strikeout rate, he is excelling at keeping the ball on the ground and limiting walks. Boston has made many headlines this month due to atrocious defense. With improved fielding, Bello’s numbers might look even better.

It’s not clear where the Red Sox will turn to with Bello on the injured list. Pivetta is working his way back and wasn’t expected to miss too much time. However, he likely won’t be ready to return before Bello’s next scheduled start.

Injuries Keep Piling up for Boston

No matter who they turn to, Kelly will join the active roster and provide a fresh bullpen arm. Kelly revamped his repertoire this winter, and the results are positive. He tweaked his slider and made it more of a cutter while pairing it with a new sweeper. Plus, a change to his changeup grip allowed the pitch to sink more. It pairs better with his fastball, which Triple-A hitters have swung and missed at over 47 percent of the time this year.

Perhaps the Red Sox will use bullpen games while Bello and Pivetta work their way back from the injured list. Kelly could play an important role on the staff if that’s the case. But no matter what they do, there’s no doubt that injuries keep biting the Red Sox.

At some point, it might cost them their season.

This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

+

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.