Brayan Bello started against the Washington Nationals on Saturday, and described the three-inning, two-earned-run performance as an important learning experience.

The Red Sox right-hander struck out two, and gave up one hit and a walk. He faced the minimum in the first and third frames, but got into trouble in the top of the second. He issued a leadoff walk to James Woods and hit the next two batters, Alex Call and Dylan Crews. After loading the bases, he got Carter Kieboom to ground into a double-play, getting two outs but giving the Nationals a 1-0 lead. A single by Riley Adams plated a second run before Bello rung up Nasim Nuñez with a swinging strikeout to end the inning.

“I ran into a little bit of command issues in the second inning, but I think I learned a little bit (about) that inning,” he told NESN’s Jahmai Webster via translator. “I think I was able to get composure back and be able to get out of that inning, and overall I think it was a great outing for me.”

Expectations are high for the 24-year-old righty, who is entering his second full year in the Majors; he’s among the young arms whom Alex Cora publicly called upon to take a step forward. Bello was dominant for most of the ’23 season, but ran out of steam in September. After struggling in his season debut, he posted a 2.70 ERA over his remaining 14 games before the All-Star break. At the end of August, he owned a 3.57 ERA over 23 total starts, but in September, he posted a 7.62 ERA over his remaining five starts, in which he gave up 22 earned runs in 26 innings.

Bello once again spent the offseason working out with Pedro Martinez at the Hall of Famer‘s home in their native Dominican Republic. Unfortunately, he’s not lined up to pitch in front of his family when the Sox and Rays play two exhibition games there later this month. Being a candidate to make his first Opening Day start is a motivational consolation prize, though.

“It’s a little bit bittersweet because I know there was a lot of people who wanted me to, see me pitch in the Dominican,” he said, “But at the same, having the opportunity to open one of the first games of the regular season makes me happy as well. It’s bittersweet, but I’m ready.”