Bryan Mata competes for Red Sox bullpen spot

Bryan Mata, a right-handed pitcher, is making a comeback in the Boston Red Sox bullpen competition. He has been in the Red Sox system for almost ten years and is now fighting for a spot in the team's relief group. He lost his place on the 40-man roster last fall but is impressing during spring training. Mata, once a top prospect, is competing with four other pitchers for three spots. His fastball has reached speeds of 98-99 mph, even though his earned run average (ERA) is high at 11.57 through a limited number of innings. Red Sox manager Alex Cora noted Mata's strong performance and his ability to throw strikes, which is crucial. Mata's journey has been challenging. He was recognized as a promising player in 2016 and 2017 and was picked for the All-Star Futures Game in 2018. After appearing in top prospect rankings, his career was interrupted by injuries. He had Tommy John surgery in 2021 and struggled with various injuries afterward, limiting his playtime significantly. At just 25 years old, Mata is trying to make an impact this season. He entered spring training with a hamstring issue but has shown improvement. In his recent game against the Tampa Bay Rays, pitched 1⅔ innings, allowing two earned runs but also struck out two batters. Cora believes Mata's stuff looked promising despite the results. To keep Mata for the start of the season, the Red Sox need to add him back to the 40-man roster soon. Cora is optimistic about Mata's chances, stating that as long as he continues to throw strikes, he remains a contender for a bullpen spot.