Brayan Bello’s Changeup Shines Despite Loss to Padres
SAN DIEGO — Red Sox pitcher Brayan Bello showcased his best changeup of the season during a 6-2 defeat against the Padres at Petco Park on Sunday. Once regarded as his most potent secondary pitch, Bello’s changeup has seen reduced usage in 2023, falling to his fourth-most-used pitch despite yielding impressive stats—a mere .196 opponent batting average against it. On Sunday, he generated six of his thirteen swings and misses with the changeup, which he believes can be more effectively deployed against right-handed hitters.
Manager Alex Cora expressed confidence in Bello’s existing pitching strategy, advocating for versatility rather than an increase in changeup usage. “He’s really good at what he’s doing right now,” Cora noted, pointing to Bello’s effective use of various pitches, particularly against lefties. Despite allowing five runs in 5 ⅔ innings, Bello struck out seven, demonstrating growth and maturity in his pitching approach.
Third baseman Alex Bregman praised Bello’s performance, highlighting his ability to execute pitches across the plate effectively. "He’s a guy that is going to compete," Bregman stated, emphasizing the belief that Bello boosts the team’s chances of victory whenever he takes the mound.
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