In Fort Myers, Florida, the Red Sox’s manager, Alex Cora, recently discussed the left-handed pitchers vying for a spot on the Opening Day roster.
Cam Booser, a pitcher with a powerful fastball reaching the upper-90s, was the first left-hander Cora mentioned. Despite lacking major league experience, Booser has caught Cora’s attention.
Cora praised several pitchers, including Joely Rodriguez, Brennan Bernardino, Chris Murphy, and Jorge Benitez, for their performances. He emphasized the importance of experience but also acknowledged the potential contributions of these left-handers throughout the season. Booser’s ability to consistently throw strikes at high speeds was specifically highlighted.
Booser, 31, signed a minor league deal with Boston in February 2023 and spent the season with Triple-A Worcester. He has demonstrated strong performance in the camp, allowing only two runs over 8 innings, which translates to a 2.25 ERA. His record includes giving up just four hits and no walks, alongside eight strikeouts.
After finishing the previous year with a 4.99 ERA across 48 appearances for the WooSox, Booser improved significantly, posting a 3.20 ERA after June. Cora noted Booser’s impressive fastball and his ability to control offspeed pitches, attributing his success to a breakthrough in finding the strike zone, a development confirmed by Worcester’s manager, Chad Tracy.
Brennan Bernardino emerged as the Red Sox’s top left-handed reliever last year, boasting a 3.20 ERA over 50 innings and allowing only one unearned run in 4 ⅔ innings this spring. However, his spot on the Opening Day roster is not guaranteed.
Cora pointed out that Bernardino faced challenges towards the end of the last season but has made significant adjustments, including adding a cutter to his arsenal. This new pitch, encouraged by Jason Varitek among others, is expected to enhance his effectiveness against right-handed hitters.
MassLive’s latest roster projection includes Bernardino and Murphy as the left-handers likely to join the big league club for the season opener in Seattle. However, Cora mentioned the possibility of not carrying two left-handed relievers, given the three-batter minimum rule and the effectiveness of certain right-handers against left-handed hitters.
Josh Winckowski, for instance, has shown the ability to handle left-handers well, a skill that Cora values highly for the bullpen’s overall performance. Similarly, Isaiah Campbell has proven effective against left-handed hitters, further demonstrating the diverse options available to the Red Sox.
Joely Rodriguez, another lefty in contention, has a two-seamer and changeup that could pose challenges for right-handed hitters. Both Rodriguez and Booser, along with Benitez, are not on the 40-man roster, unlike Murphy and Bernardino. Lucas Luetge and Joe Jacques are also competing for a spot, adding to the depth of left-handed pitching options available to the Red Sox.