Red Sox lefty, a long shot to make team this spring, eager for first start of season
Connelly Early seemingly came out of nowhere to earn a roster spot out of camp. Now, with the season underway, he's ready for his first start of the year.
CINCINNATI — Connelly Early wasn’t supposed to be here. Throughout spring training, it seemed a given that, with the three starting pitchers the Red Sox acquired, along with some returning veterans, Early would begin the year at Triple A Worcester to further his development. But then, newcomer Johan Oviedo stumbled and Ranger Suárez didn’t get the workload he was expecting in the WBC, and the Sox shifted gears.
Early was a surprising addition to the rotation late in camp. He’ll make his 2026 debut Sunday in the series finale at Great American Ball Park against the Cincinnati Reds. “It’s special,” said Early before the second game of the season.
“I’m super excited about it. ” Early was tasked with getting bigger and stronger over the winter, the goal to pitch deeper into games. He focused on that in spring training and now gets to apply what he learned in a major league setting.
“I’m trying to just stay me,” he said, “and do the same thing. I felt good during the spring so I’m just trying to take the same notes during the season and keep working on the stuff I’ve been working on. ” Early made four starts at the end of last year — and another in the Wild Card round against the New York Yankees — and knows there’s still a lot to learn.