Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez visited the Boston Red Sox spring training camp in Fort Myers, Florida, to discuss the team's revamped starting rotation. He praised ace Garrett Crochet as a potential cornerstone and highlighted the strengths of veterans Sonny Gray and Ranger Suárez, along with young Brayan Bello. Martinez expressed optimism about the group's potential to form one of the league's strongest units.
During his annual stint as a special instructor at the Red Sox camp, Pedro Martinez shared insights on the team's pitching staff. The rotation features Garrett Crochet entering his second season as the ace, with additions of Sonny Gray and Ranger Suárez, and Brayan Bello rounding out the top four.
Martinez drew parallels between Crochet's performance and his own dominant years with the Red Sox. He referenced Crochet's outing in Game 1 of last year's American League Wild Card Series against the Yankees, where the left-hander pitched 7 2/3 innings, allowing one run on four hits, with no walks and 11 strikeouts. "It brought back some memories of my time here," Martinez said. "There’s a guy that you can build a team around, and hopefully that's what [chief baseball officer Craig] Breslow and the rest of the organization will do -- build a team around a true ace."
On Crochet's attributes, Martinez noted, "I think he’s probably got better stuff [than I did] when it comes to velo and stamina. He’s very consistent in staying right above 97 and 98 [mph]." Crochet is set to start Opening Day on March 26 in Cincinnati and made his Grapefruit League debut against the Rays on Thursday.
For the 36-year-old Gray, Martinez saw value in his experience, comparing it to having Bret Saberhagen nearby early in his career. "Sonny Gray is a perfect combination with Crochet," he said. "Sonny Gray's wisdom … he is someone who also knows how to pitch, that knows how to make it happen with lesser stuff."
Ranger Suárez joined on a five-year, $130 million contract from Philadelphia. Martinez hoped for his health, saying, "Suárez is a guy that I'm hoping he stays healthy for an entire year, and hopefully we'll see possible 1-2 for the [AL] Cy Young on the same team like me and Derek Lowe [almost] did one time."
Bello, a protégé who trained at Martinez's home in the Dominican Republic, is poised for a breakout at age 27. "I think this should be his breakout year," Martinez stated. "He looks great. He looks stronger. I think this is the year I’m going to see more velo out of Bello and I think I'm going to see more consistency."
Overall, Martinez endorsed the pitching focus, adding, "I like the mix of pitchers that we have, and what I am hoping for is that we can combine all the pitching we have with good defense." He acknowledged the team's young offense but stressed the need for health and defensive improvements.
