Connelly Early was one of the fast-rising pitching prospects in the Red Sox system last season
Red Sox left-handed minor league pitcher Connelly Early split time between two levels of Boston’s system this past season.
Early, who was the Sox’ fifth-round pick in the 2023 MLB draft out of the University of Virginia, made 23 starts between High-A Greenville and Double-A Portland. The southpaw posted a 3.99 ERA with 138 strikeouts and 39 walks over 103 2/3 innings. He was the only hurler from the 2023 draft class to throw 100 innings this past season.
After camp broke down in Fort Myers at the start of the season, Early began the season with the Drive, pitching in 15 games and posting a 3.72 ERA with 90 strikeouts to 24 walks in 67 2/3 innings.
“Manager in Greenville, Iggy [Saurez], brought me into the office, and a couple of other coaches were in there,” said Early to Beyond the Monster this summer on how he found out about his promotion. “He told me that there were some schedule changes and I was getting moved to Thursday or Friday. And he said they wouldn't have to worry about it in Greenville because I would be up in Portland [laughs].
So it was pretty interesting. He kind of slow-rolled me into it, but it was a good time."
Soon after the MLB All-Star break, the Portland Sea Dogs needed additional arms for their rotation, and Early earned a promotion to Double-A. He made eight starts with the Sea Dogs, recording a 2-3 record and a 4.50 ERA with 48 strikeouts and 15 walks in 36 innings.
Early ranked second in ground ball rate (58.9 percent), sixth in FIP, seventh in swinging-strike rate (16.4 percent), 13th in strikeouts per nine innings (12.0), and 16th in strikeout rate (30.6 percent), according to FanGraphs.
The lefty offers a four-pitch mix that consists of a 91-93 mph fastball that tops out around 95-96 mph, an 80-82 mph changeup, a 79-81 mph curveball, and a cutter-slider hybrid that sits between 87-88 mph, according to his SoxProspects scouting report.
“I like the changeup depth that I have,” Early said to MassLive.com of his changeup and curveball. “So it’s able to miss a decent amount of barrels earlier in the counts or even later in the counts. What I’ve heard is it looks similar to my fastball, so it’s just hard to pick up out of the hand. Same with the curveball. It’s got a really similar spin to my fastball. So I don’t think the hitters can really pick it up too well.
“I like throwing my changeup in a lot of counts, but I also love the curveball,” he added. “I’ve just always thrown that. So that’s always been kind of the bread and butter.”
Early began throwing his cutter-slider during the final week of the spring, and the pitch remained in his arsenal all season. Working on his command and offering more of a break on his pitches will help him as he advances in the minors next season.
“He had solid miss rates on all of his secondaries, though scouts don’t believe any pitch stands out as above-average or plus,” wrote Baseball America, who currently has Early ranked as the Sox’ 28th overall prospect. “It’s more of a pitchability lefty profile with good feel for all four offerings and a career 9% walk rate.”
One of Early’s highlights while pitching for the Sea Dogs this season was he was able to strike out Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo twice while he was rehabbing with the Somerset Patriots.
Early joined right-hander David Sandlin in Portland, who was promoted in mid-July. Similar to Early, Sandlin was a fast-riser in the Sox’ system in his first season in the organization. Sandlin was acquired from the Royals for reliever John Schreiber during spring training.
Both Early and Sandlin should begin the 2025 season with the Sea Dogs helping to anchor down their rotation at Hadlock Field. Early projects as a potential organizational starter and should continue to develop into an interesting option for the Red Sox on the mound in the future.
