Red Sox reliever excels in spring training competition

The Boston Red Sox have been working to improve their left-handed relief pitchers this offseason. Last year, the team’s six lefty relievers had a combined ERA of 4.33. Only one player, Cam Booser, had an ERA under 4.00 before being traded. To address this, the Red Sox signed Aroldis Chapman and Justin Wilson for one-year contracts. Brennan Bernardino is also competing for a spot on the roster. He had a 4.06 ERA in 51 innings last season. This spring, Bernardino prepared by training at the JetBlue Park complex. Manager Alex Cora noted that he did not shy away from competition but embraced it. Bernardino has performed well in the spring games, allowing only one earned run in 6 2/3 innings. Bernardino has focused on improving his changeup, a pitch he didn’t utilize much last season. Opposing right-handed hitters batted .284 against him in 2023. He believes that adding the changeup will help him be more effective against them. Cora stated that Bernardino's changeup is becoming reliable and praised his dedication during the offseason. The Red Sox are considering having three left-handed relievers on their Opening Day roster. Chapman is likely to take on the closer role, but the team is evaluating their options for earlier in games as well. Cora mentioned the importance of building a functional roster and making strategic decisions based on the team's needs.