FORT MYERS, Fla. — Red Sox starter Brayan Bello will begin the 2025 season on the 15-day injured list but he expects to join the starting rotation early in the season.
Bello, who experienced shoulder soreness at the beginning of spring training camp, threw a live batting practice Monday.

“By next week I should be up to four or five innings,” Bello said through translator Daveson Perez on Tuesday at JetBlue Park. “There’s a plan in place. So hopefully, by the first or second week of April I’ll be back in.”

Bello will remain in Fort Myers during the team’s season-opening trip. The Red Sox end Grapefruit League play Sunday. They then will play two exhibition games in Mexico on Monday and Tuesday before opening the regular season in Texas against the Rangers on March 27.

Boston plays four games in Texas (March 27-30), then three games in Baltimore (March 31, April 2-3). Opening Day at Fenway is April 4 against the Cardinals.

“I’m going to stay back here, pitch in the backfields, work my way up — three, four, five innings,” Bello said. “I’m not going to be with the team on the road but God willing I’ll be able to be with the team in Boston.”

Bello, the Red Sox’s 2024 Opening Day starter, feels strong.

“I’m more and more confident,” he said. “I feel no pain anywhere. Everything’s going good and just keep going.”

Bello struggled during the first half last year, posting a 5.32 ERA in 17 starts. But he pitched better in the second half (3.47 ERA in 13 starts) when he began using his four-seam fastball again.

“My goal is when I do start to pitch to be at my very best so I can help this team with our goal, which is to make it to the World Series,” Bello said. “Me personally, I want to make it to the All-Star Game. I want to play in the postseason. ”

ANOTHER DAY, another injury concern for the Red Sox.

Utility man Romy Gonzalez had an MRI after leaving Boston’s split-squad game against the Braves Monday with a tight oblique, manager Alex Cora said. The level of concern is low but the Red Sox are still proceeding with caution.

“Not soreness, he felt tight,” Cora said. “He’s going to have an MRI so we’ll know more tomorrow. He feels like there’s nothing there. It’s a matter of him not wanting to take a chance.”

Worcester manager Chad Tracy, who was managing the group that went to North Port on Monday, noticed Gonzalez stretching frequently during the game. Gonzalez, who was playing first base, lasted six innings and three plate appearances in a 2-1 loss.

If healthy, Gonzalez is nearly certain to make the Opening Day roster because he is the top backup option behind Triston Casas at first base. He played seven positions for the Sox in 2024 and projects as one of the top super-utility options on the roster. If Gonzalez has to miss time, someone like Nick Sogard or non-roster invitee Abraham Toro would have a better chance to break camp in the majors behind Casas.

In other injury updates, Cora said starter Kutter Crawford (knee) will begin the year on the injured list.

“Kutter is going to throw the two bullpens this week. From what I’ve seen, and listening to what he said, he’s in a good spot,” Cora said.

WYATT MILLS has put together a solid spring training camp, allowing two runs, five hits and two walks, striking out seven in six innings (five relief appearances).

But the 30-year-old sidearmer will begin the year in the minors. Boston reassigned Mills, who is not on the 40-man roster, to minor league camp Tuesday. He likely will begin the 2025 season at Triple-A Worcester.

The Red Sox have 51 players, including 14 non-roster invitees, remaining in big league camp.

Mills hasn’t pitched in two years. He underwent Tommy John surgery in July 2023.

The Red Sox acquired the 30-year-old righty from the Royals for minor league pitcher Jacob Wallace on Dec. 16, 2022. He drew comparisons back then to John Schreiber because of their similar arm angles and same repertoire (four-seamer, sinker, slider). But he got injured during 2023 spring training and hasn’t pitched for Boston.

The Red Sox non-tendered him Nov. 17, 2023, then signed him to a two-year minor league contract the next day.

He changed the grips on his slider and sinker while rehabbing in Fort Myers the past two summers. He also has added a change-up to his pitch mix.

Mills is someone who should be able to help the big league club out of the bullpen at some point.

“When my name gets called, happy to go out there and help the team,” he said earlier this month.

TUESDAY’S GAME: The Yankees and Red Sox tied, 4-4.

Boston tied the game in the eighth on Rob Refsnyder’s sacrifice fly.

Masataka Yoshida hit his first homer of the spring, a two-run shot in the sixth inning.

Walker Buehler started for Boston, allowing one earned run in five innings.