Alex Cora Highlights ‘Huge’ Juncture For Injured Red Sox Starter

The Red Sox are dealing with some injuries and ailments early in spring training, including a few issues along their pitching staff.

Brayan Bello was not able to hit the ground running in Fort Myers, Fla., due to a sore shoulder. However, the talented right-hander is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Friday, which will be almost exactly one month out from Boston’s Opening Day showdown in Texas.

As Red Sox manager Alex Cora made clear Monday, the upcoming bullpen will go a long way in determining Bello’s trajectory for a full return from injury.

“The bullpen is huge on Friday,” Cora told reporters, per The Boston Globe.

Cora never suggested Bello was in great danger of not being ready for the start of the regular season. However, if the 25-year-old needs some extra time to reach 100% health, the Red Sox are equipped to navigate the first week-plus of the campaign without their most desired rotation at full strength.

And once Bello is completely ready to go, the Red Sox will be looking for him to have a career season. That comes with the territory after making 30 starts and earning 14 wins in his second full campaign as a starter.