PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — A dark horse has emerged in the Red Sox’ bullpen competition, and it’s a name familiar to those who have followed the team’s farm system for the last few years.
Right-hander Bryan Mata, in camp as a non-roster invitee after losing his 40-man roster spot last fall, is one of five pitchers competing for the three remaining spots in Boston’s relief corps. Along with expected candidates Brennan Bernardino, Cooper Criswell, Zack Kelly and Greg Weissert, Mata remains as one of the final relievers for Alex Cora in major league camp — and it’s no coincidence.
Mata, a former top pitching prospect who has spent much of the last few seasons on the injured list, has turned heads in camp. His ERA (11.57 in just 4 ⅓ innings) suggests struggles but the Red Sox are tantalized by a fastball that has sat in the 98-99 mph range and a 7:2 strikeout-to-walk ratio (albeit in a small sample). In an era in which “stuff” is king, Mata’s pitch mix has allowed him to stand out.
“He’s throwing the (expletive) out of the ball,” Cora said. “Throwing 98-99 (mph), throwing strikes, good changeup, good slider. He’s throwing strikes. He’s healthy, which is the most important thing.”
To this point, Mata’s career arc has been one of unrecognized promise. After landing on the radar of scouts in 2016 and 2017, he was selected to the All-Star Futures Game in July 2018, while at High-A Salem. Armed with a high-velocity fastball, two breaking balls and a changeup, he climbed up prospect charts and was ranked by Baseball America as one of the top six prospects in the system in 2018, 2019 and 2020, peaking at No. 4.
Shortly after the 2020 minor league season was canceled due to COVID, the injury bug began to bite Mata hard. He had Tommy John surgery in 2021, then from 2022 to 2024, was limited to just 132 ⅔ innings due to various ailments. In 2024 alone, he pitched just 22 ⅔ frames. After a year rehabbing as an out-of-options player — he was pulled off multiple rehab assignments due to new injuries popping up — Mata was designated for assignment and non-tendered in November before deciding to return on a low-stakes minor league deal.
Mata, still just 25, entered camp as a non-40-man roster player for the first time since 2020, then got off to a slow start due to a hamstring issue. After making his Grapefruit League debut on March 11, he began to impress.
“He has put himself on the map,” said Cora. “This guy, at one point, was the guy in that organization. He has been hurt for a long, long time. Sometimes, things happen for a reason. Now, he’s in a different situation. Maybe he’s more relaxed.”
Mata got his last tune-up of Grapefruit League play Saturday against the Rays, in what Cora deemed a “big” outing that was supposed to go two innings. Mata was touched for two earned runs on four hits while striking out two in 1 ⅔ innings. His manager thought the performance was more encouraging than the line may suggest.
“He threw well. We didn’t play good defense behind him, but I think the stuff was good,” Cora said. “He maintained his fastball and he threw a lot of strikes, so another good one for him.”
To carry Mata for the opening series, the Red Sox would have to add him to the 40-man roster early next week. That possibility will remain in play until more moves are made.
“As long as he throws strikes, he’s in the mix,” Cora said.
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