BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox called up left-handed pitcher Connelly Early from Triple-A Worcester for his major league debut tonight against the Athletics, first reported by Foul Territory TV. As a corresponding move, the team placed starter Dustin May on the 15-day injured list with (as of this time) an undisclosed injury, per Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald. Early, a fifth-round pick in 2023, follows Payton Tolle as a recent Red Sox pitching prospect debut, jumping over Kyle Harrison, acquired in the trade for Rafael Devers, in Boston’s reinforcement pecking order.
Red Sox Calling Up Connelly Early for MLB Debut
The Red Sox are calling up Connelly Early to start in place of Dustin May tonight, per multiple reports.
Early is Boston’s 6th ranked prospect on @MLBPipeline and has posted a 2.60 ERA in 100.1 IP in the minor leagues this season pic.twitter.com/s4Ma3y7CRU
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) September 9, 2025
Minor League Dominance
Early, 23, has excelled in the minors this season, posting a 10-3 record with a 2.60 ERA (2.76 FIP) over 110 1/3 innings across Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester. Additionally, he recorded 132 strikeouts compared to 40 walks, yielding a 1.106 WHIP. At Worcester, he went 3-1 with a 2.83 ERA in six appearances (28 2/3 innings), including a career-high 10-strikeout, six-scoreless-inning outing on September 2. Diving into Early’s advanced metrics, he owns a PS score (Prospect Savant score is a percentile stat that evaluates prospect value) of 97.84, good for the 98th percentile across Triple-A pitchers. Baseball America notes Early’s 31% strikeout rate led Red Sox minor leaguers (80+ innings), driven by increased velocity and refined arsenal.
Connelly Early is trending up in Worcester… we may see him with the major league staff soon, and for good reason!
Some notes
100.1 IP | 2.60 ERA/2.76 FIP
1.11 WHIP / .193 BAA / 10% BB
32% K / 14% SwStr / 32% CSW
w/ AAA: .248 xwOBA, 85aEV, 6° LA, 51% GB, 34% HH, 69% Con… pic.twitter.com/mTFLgbbxDa
— G.G. (@ggeiss_mlb) September 8, 2025
Scouting Report and Praise
“Connelly’s a strikeout pitcher,” Worcester manager Chad Tracy told MassLive. “He keeps hitters confused, and that 10-strikeout game showed his stuff plays.” Early’s six-pitch mix—featuring a 92-95 mph fastball, a plus changeup, and a devastating curve—has drawn attention. FanGraphs’ David Laurila noted, “He’s revamped his repertoire, with a new one-seam kick-change that’s his nastiest pitch.” Teammate Payton Tolle, who debuted August 29, praised Early’s composure: “He’s got that calm confidence. He’ll handle the big stage.” Scouts highlight his pitchability, with SoxProspects.com noting his “above-average command and consistent release point.”
Good look at Connelly Early’s last start.
He’s made 6 starts since reaching AAA with a 2.83 ERA/3.06 FIP in 28.2 IP. 11.3 K/9 and 3.5 BB/9. Has limited homers with a 0.6 HR/9.
Nasty changeup. Been a battle for him to maintain velo deep into outings.pic.twitter.com/I3HmWEq4AR
— Tyler Milliken (@tylermilliken_) September 9, 2025
Implications for Boston
However, Early faces a challenging debut at Sacramento’s hitter-friendly stadium, Sutter Health Park. The Athletics’ temporary field ranks second in WOBA, runs, OBP, hits, and ninth in home runs. Effectively, Sutter Health Park owns a 108 Park Factor (per Baseball Savant), trailing only the Colorado Rockies’ Coors Field. His promotion reflects Boston’s faith in their farm talent, as they push for a Wild Card spot, leading Seattle by 3 1/2 games. For instance, Tolle’s debut (5 1/3 IP, 8 K, 2 ER) set a high bar, and Early aims to follow suit. Yet, his high-floor profile suggests reliability over flash. Meanwhile, May’s IL stint raises rotation concerns, but Early’s emergence is the depth Boston needs. As Boston chases a playoff spot, Early’s debut could be pivotal for the young lefty and the Red Sox.
Main Photo Credit: © WooSox Photo/Ashley Green / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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