Bello’s arrival may come Wednesday
Sox’ options for starter are limited
Nothing is official, but it sure sounds like the Red Sox will be promoting their top pitching prospect, Brayan Bello, to make his major league debut on Wednesday night against the Rays.
Bello, 23, was originally signed out of the Dominican Republic for $28,000 as an 18-year- old in 2017. But he’s shot up the prospect rankings over the last two years while slicing up minor league hitters with a high-90s fastball that he throws from a three- quarters arm slot.
In 85 innings between Double- A Portland and Triple- A Worcester this year, Bello has recorded 114 strikeouts while posting a 2.33 ERA and earning his way up to the No. 3-ranked Sox prospect via Baseball America.
As dominant as he’s been, it’s somewhat surprising it’s taken this long for the Sox to consider pulling the trigger.
But with Rich Hill now on the injured list with a left knee sprain and Michael Wacha on the shelf with a dead arm, the Sox are testing their starting pitching depth.
Kutter Crawford was called up on Monday but threw 5 1/3 innings in the 4- 0 win over the Rays. Connor Seabold started Sunday’s game and was returned to Worcester. Josh Winckowski is on turn to pitch Thursday.
Just about all of the Sox’ Triple-a depth has already been accounted for, which leaves two possible options to pitch on Wednesday: Bello or Chris Sale, who is scheduled to make what could be his final rehab start for Worcester.
“We were joking, I said, ‘ Man, it’s sold out already and you can’t disappoint the people in Worcester,’” manager Alex Cora said on Monday. “It will be good for (Sale) to go there and compete. He feels really good. I was able to talk to him a little bit and he’s ready to go.
“If it’s up to him he’d pitch here, but I think one more, maybe two down there.”
With Sale pitching in Worcester, Cora was asked who is left as an option to pitch for the Red Sox on Wednesday.
“Ummm… right now down there, Bello is one option,” Cora said. “Who else is down there who we can use? Honestly, I don’t know who else.”
If Bello does make his debut, he’d be the Sox’ most anticipated pitching prospect to make his debut since Henry Owens made his first big league appearance in 2015.
The Sox haven’t drafted or signed a homegrown starting pitcher who has found regular success in the big leagues since Clay Buchholz, who was drafted in 2005.
Tanner Houck, drafted and developed as a starter, is one of the many who was moved to the bullpen fairly early in his career.
Bogaerts ‘pretty sore’
It usually takes a lot for Xander Bogaerts to miss a home game. The injury the Red Sox shortstop suffered in Sunday’s win over the Cubs was enough to keep him out — at least for one day.
Bogaerts was out of Monday’s Red Sox lineup as they began a big week and a big series against the Rays after he suffered a left thigh laceration that required seven stitches after he was spiked on Sunday in Chicago. After a late flight home to Boston, Bogaerts texted Cora on Monday morning to tell him he was still hurting.
“I always give Bogey the benefit of the doubt and as long as possible to see if he can go and he texted me early,” Cora said. “It was my wake-up text, ‘ I’m pretty sore.’ It is a pretty big cut. Hopefully he feels better tomorrow. We can use him.”
Bogaerts was fortunate the injury wasn’t worse. He suffered it in the seventh inning when the Cubs were attempting a double steal. Christian Vazquez made a perfect throw to Bogaerts at second, where the shortstop tagged out a sliding Willson Contreras, who was caught off the base. But Bogaerts came away from the play hobbling after Contreras spiked him above his knee on the slide.
After a few moments and a visit from the trainer, Bogaerts left the game on his own power.
“I was lucky it wasn’t my knee,” Bogaerts told reporters after the game. “That wouldn’t have been good at all.”
Injury updates
Kiké Hernandez is progressing well from the hip injury that’s kept the center fielder out since June 8 to the point that he should be ready for a rehab assignment sometime this week. Cora believes Hernandez is over the injury and the focus now is building back up for his eventual return.
“Now it’s about the baseball side of it,” Cora said. “He did everything possible to get to the point to where he is right now and now it’s just building up the baseball activity.”
Garrett Whitlock ( hip) and Nathan Eovaldi ( back) are both pitching up-anddown bullpens on Tuesday and will face live hitters after that.
Wacha was scratched from Monday’s start due to a dead arm, but the Red Sox hope he can return later this week after he sees a doctor.