The Boston Red Sox are getting a significant boost to their starting rotation ahead of Tuesday night’s series opener against the Seattle Mariners. The team announced that right-handed pitcher Brayan Bello has been activated from the 15-day injured list, marking his return to the mound after an extended absence.
To make room for Bello on the active roster, the Red Sox optioned veteran reliever Zack Kelly to Triple-A Worcester following their game on Monday against the Chicago White Sox.
Bello, 25, will be making his regular-season debut after being sidelined due to a shoulder issue. The young starter experienced right shoulder soreness during spring training, causing him to miss the first week of the exhibition season. As a result, the Red Sox had to adjust their starting rotation plans for the year. Bello did not appear in any spring training games, but he worked his way back by making four rehab starts—one with Double-A Portland and three with Triple-A Worcester—showcasing his readiness for big-league action.
Meanwhile, Kelly, 30, had been part of the Red Sox bullpen since the start of the season. The veteran made the Opening Day roster, marking his fourth year with the club. However, Kelly has struggled in recent outings, especially over his last four appearances, during which he allowed 11 hits and 10 earned runs in just seven innings. His performance has been less than stellar, with a troubling 12.86 ERA and a .334 opponents’ batting average during that stretch. In his most recent appearance on April 20 against the White Sox, Kelly gave up three earned runs, allowed a hit, and hit two batters with pitches.
So far in 2023, Kelly has a 1-1 record and a 9.00 ERA in seven appearances, with opponents hitting .293 against him. His hard-hit rate of 46.7% is a career-high, signaling that hitters have been consistently finding success against him. This marks a sharp contrast to his strong performance last season when he posted a 6-3 record with a 3.97 ERA in 49 appearances, including three starts.
The Red Sox are hopeful that Kelly can regain his form in Triple-A Worcester, where he will have the opportunity to work on refining his pitching before potentially rejoining the major league squad in the coming weeks.
