Getting to know Connell Early
When it comes to using pitching prospects to solve pennant race problems, the Red Sox aren't hesitating.
After first promoting Payton Tolle to fill out a spot in the starting rotation, according to a source, the Red Sox are bringing up Connelly Early to help the big league team. Early will take the spot of Dustin May, who was slated to start Tuesday but will now go on the injured list. The Foul Territory podcast was the first to report the move.
Early, the Red Sox's No. 7 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, has started six games for Triple-A Worcester, where he totaled a 2.83 ERA while striking out 36 in 28 2/3 innings. Before the promotion to the WooSox, the fifth-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft had gone 7-2 with a 2.51 ERA at Double-A Portland, striking out 96 in 71 2/3 innings.
The lefty was scratched from his scheduled start Sunday, presenting an option for Tuesday's move.
The highly-regarded Early was sought after by the Diamondbacks when the Red Sox showed interest in Merrill Kelly at the trade deadline, but the Sox chose to hang on to the former University of Virginia product.
The maneuvering is another reminder of how thin the once high-touted Red Sox starting pitching depth has become. Previous options such as Hunter Dobbins, Richard Fitts and Cooper Criswell, have all been sidelined due to injury, with the team choosing to part ways with Walker Buehler on Aug. 29. Kyle Harrison, acquired in the Rafael Devers deal, has yet to make a big league appearance for the Red Sox.