Brayan Bello, who took the mound for the Boston Red Sox as the Opening Day starter last season, has unfortunately hit a setback in his preparations for 2025, leaving him unable to repeat the honor this year. The 25-year-old right-hander is dealing with shoulder soreness that has caused a delay in his recovery. As a result, he will not be ready to start on Opening Day for the Red Sox in 2025.

Manager Alex Cora addressed the situation on Tuesday, revealing that Bello is not progressing as expected. “He’s behind in his recovery, so he won’t be with us on Opening Day,” Cora explained. The manager went on to emphasize the importance of caution in Bello’s recovery process, stating, “It doesn’t make sense to rush him. Pushing him too hard could lead to something more serious.” This cautious approach underlines the Red Sox’s commitment to ensuring Bello’s long-term health and performance, rather than risking further injury by forcing him back too soon.

While Bello’s timeline for the season opener is no longer feasible, the Red Sox are still working to integrate him into spring training. He is scheduled to throw live batting practice on Wednesday, and the team remains optimistic that he can make an appearance in a spring training game before the end of the period on March 23. With the Red Sox’s season officially starting on March 27 with a four-game series against the Texas Rangers, there is some hope that Bello could potentially be ready to contribute sooner than originally feared. After the series with the Rangers, the team will face off against the Baltimore Orioles for a three-game stretch before returning home on April 4 to play the St. Louis Cardinals in their home opener.

Bello’s performance last season was a bright spot for the Red Sox, as he posted a solid 14-8 record with a 4.49 ERA and 153 strikeouts. His strong performance earned him a six-year, $55 million contract extension with the Red Sox last March, which also includes a club option for 2030. The extension highlighted the team’s confidence in his potential, making his current injury even more concerning. While the shoulder soreness is certainly a setback, the Red Sox remain hopeful that with the right recovery, Bello will return to full form and continue to be a key piece of their rotation for years to come.