Despite being one of the best options out of the bullpen last year, the Boston Red Sox optioned relief pitcher Brennan Bernardino to Triple-A Worcester before the season began. Instead, the Red Sox have relied on Joely Rodriguez as their lefty reliver, and it’s already backfired with Rodriguez giving up four earned runs in his 2 ⅔ innings (6.75 ERA).
While the decision was a shock to many who cover and watch the team each and every day, Bernardino was just as surprised as everyone else.
“It caught me off guard,” Bernardino said this week (via. MassLive’s Chris Cotillo). “But I’m here now. I’ve been through a lot of shit in my career so this is part of it. I’m gonna try whatever I can to get back up there and help the big club. I’ve always got a chip on my shoulder I can’t shake off anyways. So it’s just a bigger chip now.”
In 2023, Bernardino appeared in 55 games for Boston, posting a 3.20 ERA and a 1.303 WHIP in 50 ⅔ innings pitched. And in Spring Training, he was impressive, striking out five in 6 ⅔ scoreless innings.
Boston may not have been able to move Rodriguez to the minors due to a clause in his contract, according to Cotillo, but they may have been better off adding Bernardino to the MLB roster and allowing Rodriguez to test his market.