FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The Red Sox have made a pledge in recent weeks to build around their young core. They took an important step in that process on Thursday, signing emerging ace Brayan Bello to a six-year contract extension.

The deal, first reported by ESPN's Kiley McDaniel, is expected to be worth $55 million and includes a seventh-year club option for $21 million, according to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand.

The timing of the news gave the 24-year-old a chance to celebrate his long-term deal in person with his closest family members and friends in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

“Yeah, I can't comment on that,” Bello said when asked about reports of his new contract. “But I can tell you that we might have some good news during the weekend in the Dominican Republic. It’s gonna be great. I’m going to be able to spend time with my family and with my fans in the Dominican Republic and I’m sure we’re going to have a good time.”

For a long time, the Red Sox struggled to develop homegrown starting pitchers.

Bello, who received his first callup to the Majors in 2022, ended that drought.

The Red Sox signed Bello at 18 years old as an international free agent on July 2, 2017. At that time Bello wasn’t regarded as a big-time prospect, as evidenced by his modest $28,000 signing bonus.

In fact, Bello endured some early lumps, posting a 5.43 ERA in 2019, his first full season in Low-A. At that point, thoughts of a six-year contract with a club option seemed far away.

“At that time, I was just thinking about making the team and trying to become a big leaguer,” Bello said. “But obviously things have changed and I just keep working hard to keep improving myself and being the best that I can.”

For Bello, the corner was turned in ’22, when he posted a 1.69 ERA in seven starts at Double-A Portland and then went 6-2 in 11 outings at Triple-A Worcester.

Their rotation depleted by injuries, the Sox called up Bello for his Major League debut earlier than expected in July of that ’22 season, and he needed time to adjust, going 2-8 with a 4.71 ERA.

In ’23, Bello’s first full Major League season, he pitched like an ace at times, making 28 starts and going 12-11 with a 4.24 ERA.

The Red Sox are optimistic he will take another step forward this season and they’ll need him to, with offseason acquisition Lucas Giolito expected to miss significant time with a right elbow injury.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said on Thursday morning that Bello is vying with Nick Pivetta to start on Opening Day. If Bello doesn’t get the first game of the season at Seattle on March 28, he will start the next day.

“Of course I'm happy to be in that conversation,” Bello said. “Obviously, I've been working really hard, came to camp early this spring because that's one of my goals each year. And if that happens, I'm going to be ready to take the ball that day.”

"He's in a great spot," said Cora. "He has a lot of fans in that clubhouse, obviously around Red Sox Nation and hopefully before that first pitch Saturday, we can get this [contract extension] done and we can celebrate."

In his ramp-up for the start of the season, Bello threw three innings and 50 pitches to Minor Leaguers on a back field. That seemed fitting on a day his contract was close to being finalized as it wasn’t that long ago Bello was one of those prospects spending his entire Spring Training on those type of fields.

“When you look back, it's always nice to reflect on the journey that you’ve had to get all the way here,” Bello said. “For example, today, I had the opportunity to face some young guys and I have the opportunity to give some feedback and also learn from them. So yeah, it's really nice.”

Bello has continued to evolve with his power sinker and turned his changeup and four-seamer into important weapons. This season, Bello is incorporating a new grip on his slider that Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez helped him master over the offseason.

As Bello tries to become one of Boston’s best homegrown starters in the past decade, he has continually enlisted help from Martinez.

“He said, basically, ‘Just don't be afraid out there,’” Bello said. “‘Just throw what you're going to throw with conviction.’”

Look for Bello to display that conviction for years to come while wearing a Boston uniform.