Brennan Bernardino didn’t begin final season on the Crimson Sox however he ended the marketing campaign as one of many extra dependable arms in Boston’s bullpen.
The Crimson Sox claimed the left-handed reliever off waivers from the Seattle Mariners in mid-April persevering with a roller-coaster journey for Bernardino. However as soon as with Boston, the 32-year-old discovered a house and excelled in his position.
Bernardino made 55 appearances in 2023 — six of these outings he began as an opener — and posted a 3.20 ERA and 1.303 WHIP in 50 2/3 innings. For somebody who had solely pitched 2 1/3 innings within the main leagues previous to final season, it was an enormous step ahead.
However Bernardino isn’t seeking to relaxation what he did final season and desires to construct on it. He even discovered to throw a cutter this offseason with some assist from Crimson Sox sport planning coordinator Jason Varitek.
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“(The cutter) was one thing we talked about on the finish of the yr final yr,” Bernardino advised MassLive’s Christopher Smith. “I talked with Tek about it. After which as soon as (new pitching coach Andrew) Bailey got here in right here, it simply assured that’s the pitch we wanted to assault.”
Varitek wasn’t seeking to take credit score for Bernardino including the cutter to his pitching combine. Bernardino is trying to make use of it extra in opposition to right-handed hitters who batted .304 off him final season in comparison with the .169 batting common lefties compiled.
“I don’t know if I used to be one of many ones,” Varitek advised Smith. “I believe that got here from our pitching division earlier than me and I’m encouraging what they got here up with. I noticed him throw it for the primary time the opposite day. It regarded good. It regarded good and it’s a chunk so as to add to his repertoire. Nonetheless a piece in progress.”
Bernardino plans to make use of spring coaching to refine his cutter and have it assist him once more be the go-to lefty out of the bullpen for the Crimson Sox.
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“I’m able to go,” Bernardino stated. “I’m not going to get higher with it until I take advantage of it. So I’ve obtained to make use of it. Spring coaching is an effective time for trial and error.”
