FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Boston Red Sox gave Brayan Bello a choice, though it wasn’t much of a choice at all. The young right-hander could make an emotional, celebratory homecoming start during the team’s spring training trip to the Dominican Republic. Or he could start one of the first two regular season games in Seattle.

Bello understood the significance of what the Red Sox were suggesting, and so he sat out the exhibition games in his home country. On Tuesday morning, he was rewarded when chief baseball officer Craig Breslow informed the 24-year-old that he will be the Red Sox’s Opening Day starter March 28 against the Mariners. Nick Pivetta will start the second game of the season.

“I thought they were going to say Nick was going to be their Opening Day starter,” Bello said. “So, yeah, when they told me, I was super excited.”

Once upon a time, the smart money would have been on the Red Sox choosing the veteran over the kid, but not this year. Not in this camp. Not with this team. Barring an 11th-hour addition of free agent starter Jordan Montgomery, the Red Sox are going all-in on a continuation of their cost-conscious, build-from-within philosophy.

Young defensive standout Ceddanne Rafaela was in center field again on Tuesday, and he’s lately gotten the bulk of the Red Sox’s recent starts in center while Jarren Duran has played four of his past five games in an outfield corner. All signs point toward Rafaela making the team, and if he does, the Red Sox’s Opening Day lineup could have four truly homegrown players (Rafaela, Duran, Rafael Devers and Triston Casas) plus two or three others who were acquired as prospects and have since graduated to the majors (Connor Wong, Enmanuel Valdez and perhaps Wilyer Abreu).

Shortstop Trevor Story and designated hitter Masataka Yoshida are likely to be the only Red Sox regulars who were acquired as free agents, and now that Lucas Giolito is hurt, there might not be a single free-agent addition in the rotation unless Cooper Criswell makes the team, and even Criswell was signed for a modest $1 million with just two big league starts on his resume.

So, why choose Bello to start Opening Day?

“Why not?” manager Alex Cora said.

In this camp of youth and opportunity — which is to say, a camp without a bunch of veteran additions providing certainty and stability — Bello has become the centerpiece of the youth movement, emblematic of what the Red Sox are trying to build and develop. He’s gone from being undersized and overlooked as an amateur to signing a six-year, $55 million contract extension this spring. He didn’t pitch during the team’s trip to the Dominican Republic, but he did hold his extension press conference in his home country. Bello will be the first homegrown Red Sox Opening Day starter since Clay Buchholz, a landmark achievement that resonates throughout the organization. This is the kind of thing the Red Sox are trying to do more often.

“I do believe he’s in a stage in his career, and in the organization, that he is the right one for that game,” Cora said. “It’s only Opening Day but we made a big commitment with him a few weeks ago. He made a big commitment with us. It goes hand in hand.”

at 24 years & 316 days old, Brayan Bello will be the 4th-youngest Opening Day SP for the Red Sox in the last 85 seasons, older than only:

1979 Dennis Eckersley: 24 y, 184 d
1961 Bill Monbouquette: 24 y, 243 d
1995 Aaron Sele: 24 y, 305 d https://t.co/oXXZUNZ5R9

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) March 19, 2024

The team’s third starter, Cora said, will “most likely” be another homegrown pitcher, Kutter Crawford, and the last two spots could be filled by Tanner Houck (a first-round pick) and Garrett Whitlock (a Rule 5 selection who’s thrived since joining the Red Sox). A rival executive said this week that he thinks the Red Sox might be a little better than expected, in part because their rotation might be better than expected. That’s the optimistic outlook, and it seems to be the one the Red Sox are banking on.

Giolito was the team’s biggest offseason splurge, but elbow surgery has knocked him out for the season, and 31-year-old Pivetta is now not only the team’s oldest starting pitcher, but also its most experienced. Cora, who has in the past prioritized extra rest for his starters whenever possible, said he plans to take advantage of the relative youth of his current staff.

“In this situation, they haven’t thrown too many bullets,” Cora said. “Maybe it’s going to be a little bit different early on. … We’re going to give the ball to these guys, especially Nick and Bello, as much as possible.”

Bello had 12 wins and a 4.24 ERA in 28 starts last year. Already this year he’s signed an extension and gotten his first Opening Day nod. What’s next for him to accomplish?

“The next goal is to win 17 to 20 games and to help my team win,” Bello said.

And if it doesn’t happen this year, there’s always next year. That’s the way this team’s built.

“I always set my bar really high,” Bello said. “I don’t know if it’s going to be this year, but that’s something that I really want to do. Hopefully this year, but if not, that’s a goal I’m going to have in the future as well.”

GO DEEPER

A behind-the-scenes tour of the Red Sox Dominican Republic Academy

(Photo: Maddie Malhotra / Boston Red Sox / Getty Images)