It’s funny how fate can itself play ball sometimes. One moment Richard Fitts was warming up with the Boston Red Sox, and the next he is shelved with a right pectoral strain. But while his door to the games is closed for now, his injury actually cracked open the door enough for Michael Fulmer to walk through. For him, this is a blessing in disguise.
Now officially, the 32-year-old former Rookie of the Year is back in the big league. He will be wearing no. 51 for the Boston Red Sox and ready to write a new chapter in his career. Which has been anything but plain and simple.
Fulmer hasn’t pitched in the Majors since 2023. This was the year when he took off recovering from Tommy John surgery. He spent the entire time in rehab mode and only signed a two-year deal with Boston Red Sox in February. But ever since then, he has handled his business quietly in Triple A Worcester. He managed a 3.09 ERA in three outings. Not bad for a player not guaranteed about his job, right?
“It’s a little more satisfying knowing that you didn’t have a job guaranteed after a long year of rehab. … Ultimately, the most satisfied that I’ve been in my career, probably, so far.”
Michael Fulmer on being called up pic.twitter.com/QWSGDE5XVW
— NESN (@NESN) April 13, 2025
Fulmer, talking about making it in the Boston Red Sox, said, “It’s a little more satisfying knowing that you didn’t have a job guaranteed after a long year of rehab. Probably the most satisfied I’ve been in my career so far.” And well, the last line hits rather hard, and if you know, you know. Because Fulmer has gone through the lowest lows.
He is the same guy who won AL Rookie of the Year with the Detroit Tigers back in 2016. He blew away the hitters like no one’s business and looked like the next big ace. But baseball can humble even the best players, and he went 3-12 in 2018 and went through surgery in 2019. Fulmer basically had to reinvent himself as a bullpen arm to ensure he is good enough to stay here.
And here he is—still standing, still throwing, all because he didn’t give up. And now he is again under the big lights. No one knows what will happen yet. But Fulmer chancing upon this opportunity is a win too.
Brayan Bello wants to make a swift return to Boston Red Sox
There is another player just itching to make a comeback, and it’s Brayan Bello. He was sidelined before the season even began on the 15-day injured list due to a strain. But three rehab starts later, the 25-year-old is looking confident and like himself. His latest outing for Triple-A Worcester on Friday night is proof. He topped at 97.8 mph, and the shoulder issue was not holding him back.
Bello threw four innings, allowed three runs, and even struck out five—all without walking a single batter. And he has confidence that he can move back to the team now. Bello said he feels “100 percent’ and said, “I felt very good. I was trying to do my best from the first pitch.” But while he is confident, Boston Red Sox’s Alex Cora is simply not convinced yet.
Cora sternly said, “He was okay. He was good. But there’s definitely one more (rehab start). Definitely.” The plan is to maybe stretch Bello a little more, maybe get him five innings. 75-80 pitches before taking those training wheels off.
Although Chris Cotillo from MassLive hinted that Bello could make his debut during Boston’s Red Sox’s home series against the Mariners. “Reading between the lines. It seems like the club is aiming for him to make his first big league start around the time Boston hosts the Mariners.” And the timeline does check out. If Bello gets in one more rehab outing around April 17, then he can make a Fenway return the next week.
Are you looking forward to his big return? Let us know in the comments.
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