How did Red Sox pitching prospect Jose Bello (part of return for Rafael Devers) fare after trade?

After writing about James Tibbs III over the weekend, it feels like an appropriate time to examine how the other prospect the Red Sox acquired from the Giants in the Rafael Devers trade — Jose Bello — fared in the wake of the blockbuster deal being made in June.

Unlike Tibbs, Bello was not subsequently flipped at the trade deadline the following month and still remains in the organization. The 20-year-old right-hander was originally signed by the Giants for $47,500 as an international free agent coming out of Santo Domingo in January 2023. He spent the better part of his first two professional seasons in the Dominican Summer League before making his stateside debut in the Arizona Complex League last July.

Bello returned to the ACL Giants for the start of his 2025 campaign and posted a 2.00 ERA (1.89 FIP) with 28 strikeouts to three walks in eight relief appearances (18 innings) before being flipped to the Red Sox alongside Tibbs, Kyle Harrison, and Jordan Hicks on June 15. The young righty made the trek eastward and joined Boston’s Florida Complex League affiliate, compiling a 3.14 ERA (2.59 FIP) with 16 strikeouts to eight walks across his next five outings (one start) spanning 14 1/3 innings. He then received a promotion to Low-A Salem on July 25.

Tasked with his first full-season assignment, Bello pitched to a 3.09 ERA (4.04 FIP) with 17 strikeouts to 15 walks in seven appearances (four starts) totaling 23 1/3 innings for Salem. He ended the year on a high note in his September 7 start against Fayetteville, giving up just one unearned run on three hits, two walks, and four strikeouts over five strong frames.

Overall, Bello produced a 2.75 ERA (2.97 FIP) with 61 strikeouts to 14 walks over 20 appearances (five starts) between the ACL, FCL, and Salem in 2025. Opposing hitters batted .210 against him in 55 2/3 total innings across the three levels. That includes a 3.11 ERA (3.49 FIP) and a .234 opponents’ batting average across 37 2/3 innings after being traded from the Giants to the Red Sox.

Listed at 6-foot-1 and 164 pounds, Bello throws from a three-quarters arm slot and creates deception with his cross-body delivery. As noted in his SoxProspects.com scouting report, the athletic hurler features a four-pitch mix that consists of a 92-94 mph fastball that tops out at 96 mph, a 90-92 mph cutter, an 83-86 mph slider, and a seldom-used upper-80s changeup.

Bello, who does not turn 21 until May, is currently regarded by SoxProspects.com as Boston’s No. 54 prospect, which ranks 32nd among pitchers in the organization. Barring a trade or other surprise move this winter, he is projected by the site to return to Salem for the start of the 2026 season.

(Picture of Jose Bello: Suzanna Mitchell/San Francisco Giants/Getty Images)

Which two prospects did Red Sox acquire from Giants in blockbuster Rafael Devers trade?

In an absolutely stunning turn of events, the Red Sox have traded superstar designated hitter Rafael Devers to the Giants, the club announced earlier Sunday evening.

In exchange for Devers, who is in the second season of a 10-year, $315.5 million contract extension, Boston acquired left-hander Kyle Harrison, right-hander Jordan Hicks, minor-league outfielder James Tibbs III, and minor-league right-hander Jose Bello from San Francisco.

Harrison has been optioned to Triple-A Worcester, while fellow southpaw Zach Penrod was designated for assignment to make room on the Red Sox’ 40-man roster, which is back at full capacity.

As for the two prospects Boston acquired in this blockbuster deal, Tibbs stands out given the fact that he was just selected by San Francisco with the 13th overall pick, one pick after the Red Sox took Braden Montgomery (who was subsequently dealt to the White Sox in the Garrett Crochet trade), in the 2024 draft out of Florida State. The Georgia native received a $4,747,500 signing bonus and made his professional debut with Low-A San Jose last August.

Tibbs was ranked by Baseball America as the No. 3 prospect in the Giants’ farm system. The left-handed hitting 22-year-old spent the first two-plus months of the 2025 season with High-A Eugene, batting .246/.379/.478 with 10 doubles, one triple, 12 home runs, 32 RBIs, 41 runs scored, three stolen bases, 42 walks, and 45 strikeouts in 57 games (256 plate appearances) for the Emeralds. That includes a .316/.458/.553 slash line against left-handed pitching and a .231/.361/.462 slash line against right-handed pitching.

Defensively, Tibbs has seen the vast majority of his playing time as a professional to this point come in right field. The 6-foot, 201-pounder logged 402 1/3 innings in right for Eugene this year, recording five assists without committing an error in 87 chances. He also made nine starts at DH.

Tibbs, who does not turn 23 until October, is being assigned to Double-A Portland, according to Andrew Parker of Beyond the Monster. The Sea Dogs open a six-game homestand against the Akron RubberDucks at Hadlock Field on Tuesday night.

Bello, meanwhile, was not ranked among San Francisco’s top 30 prospects by Baseball America or MLB Pipeline. The 20-year-old righty originally signed with the Giants as an international free agent coming out of the Dominican Republic in January 2023. He made his professional debut in the Dominican Summer League shortly thereafter, spending the better part of two seasons there before moving up to the Arizona Complex League last July.

In eight appearances for the ACL Giants to begin the 2025 campaign, Bello posted a 2.00 ERA and 1.91 FIP with 28 strikeouts to three walks over 18 innings of relief. Opposing hitters batted .156 against the projectable 6-foot-1, 164-pound hurler, who currently features a four-pitch mix that consists of an upper-90s fastball, a cutter, a slider, and a changeup, per a brief Baseball America scouting report.

Bello, who just turned 20 late last month, has been assigned to the Florida Complex League Red Sox. With that being said, it would not be surprising if he received a promotion to Low-A Salem in due time.

(Picture of Rafael Devers: Jaiden Tripi/Getty Images)