BALTIMORE — Brendan Cellucci’s first extended run at triple-A did not go well, a 7.90 ERA in 27.1 innings over 17 outings last summer prompting the Boston Red Sox to first place him on the minor-league development list before releasing him July 28, 2025. At 27, with only one year of promising performance at double-A in 2024 to show for six seasons of pro ball and no interest from other major-league organizations, his career was in real jeopardy.

The lefty from Philadelphia, however, had no intentions of giving up so two days later he headed off to independent ball, dominated in the York Revolution bullpen and helped them win an Atlantic League championship. That led to a winter-ball stint with Criollos de Caguas in Puerto Rico, which then opened the door to a minor-league deal with the Toronto Blue Jays, where he impressed enough at triple-A Buffalo to earn a big-league debut, one that if not for his determination a year ago would never have happened.

“That's definitely always been the mentality, this has been the dream, so until I flip over every rock, I'm not going to stop,” said Cellucci. “I definitely wanted to continue (after the Red Sox release), see what would happen and just kind of leave it in........

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