Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Tuesday that righthander Brayan Bello won’t be ready to make his first scheduled start of 2025 when the season opens next month.
Bello will begin the season on the injured list as shoulder soreness has kept him from getting up to speed in time in Fort Myers, Fla.
“[Bello]’s behind,” Cora told reporters. “So he’s not going to be with us for the Opening Day.”
Bello, who signed a long-term extension ahead of last season, went 14-8 with a 4.49 ERA over a career-high 162⅓ innings in 2024. With the additions of Garrett Crochet and Walker Buehler, plus the return of Lucas Giolito from injury, there’s less pressure on the 25-year-old Bello as a front-of-rotation option.
“Just doesn’t make sense to push him and rush everything and then something major happens,” Cora said. “So he’s throwing a live BP tomorrow. He’s going to be part of it. But he’s behind, so we’ll take care of him.”
Amin Touri can be reached at amin.touri@globe.com.