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Red Sox newcomer helping Brayan Bello with improved grip, curveball for 2026 season
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- Red Sox newcomer helping Brayan Bello with improved grip, curveball for 2026 season
FORT MYERS — Something was different during Brayan Bello’s live batting practice Thursday.
The Red Sox pitcher added a curveball to his arsenal. Bello was working on a curveball when he signed with Boston in 2017, and worked on a slower one in 2023 with former teammate Rich Hill .
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Bello was seen working with newcomer Ranger Suárez — who features a deep arsenal of pitches including a curveball. NESN cameras captured Suárez showing Bello some grips earlier this week.
“I’m someone who always wants to learn and always wants to improve,” Bello said of his conversation with Suárez. “I always talk to him. We play catch together. So I was telling him that I was trying a new grip on my changeup, and he was telling me that it was good. And also I was asking for some advice on how to release the ball.
“I think that this year I’m gonna learn a lot from him,” he added. “So I feel like I’m very excited for this season, as well.”
The curveball is not necessarily a new pitch, it’s just one Bello hasn’t consistently thrown. That could change in 2026 as he looks to add more depth to his pitch mix that already includes a cutter, sweeper, changeup and four-seam fastball.
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“It’s not something that is new to me, just more repetitions than anything,” Bello said of his curveball. “Last year I was throwing it unintentionally. Now we have more intent behind every pitch and every grip.
“I feel like it’s 85-90% there.”
Bello also said he was working on improved grips on some of his pitches, particularly separating his curveball and sweeper.
After a season in which Bello went 11-9 with a 3.35 ERA, 1.236 WHIP and 124 strikeouts, the right-hander is ready to take another step in 2026.
“I feel there’s a lot to build off from last year,” he said.
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