This story was excerpted from Ian Browne¡¯s Red Sox Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

Brayan Bello¡¯s quest to be the best homegrown starting pitcher the Red Sox have had in at least a decade was recently aided by an invitation to do some throwing under the tutelage of a legend.

The Dec. 19 session with Pedro Martinez at the Hall of Famer¡¯s home in the Dominican Republic is there to see for anyone who follows Bello on Instagram.

The Red Sox great and the man who could become a star worked together in the outdoor cage at Martinez¡¯s property. Over three videos, Bello throws, and Martinez watches and offers instruction. At one point you can see Martinez pushing Bello¡¯s elbow up, giving him a pointer about his release point.

At Winter Weekend in Springfield, Mass., last weekend, Bello spoke for the first time about his lessons with Martinez.

¡°Yeah, great experience,¡± Bello said. ¡°One of my favorite pitchers, and I've just enjoyed learning from him.¡±

The work Bello did with Martinez -- which will likely continue in Spring Training -- was as much mental as physical.

¡°He said, basically, ¡®Just don't be afraid out there,¡¯¡± Bello said. ¡°¡®Just throw what you're going to throw with conviction.¡¯¡±

Martinez was known for his lethal fastball-changeup combo. His changeup is regarded as one of the dominant pitches in history.

Interestingly, Bello didn¡¯t talk much about the changeup with Martinez.

¡°He was more focusing on just the high fastball and slider,¡± Bello said.

However, Bello knows that another pitch could be the key to his success in what is expected to be his first full season in the Majors.

¡°The curveball is what I¡¯ve been working on, a newer edition, and I¡¯m looking forward to using it,¡± Bello said.