Connelly Early Shines in Red Sox Debut
In a memorable night for the Boston Red Sox, left-handed pitcher Connelly Early dazzled in his Major League debut, leading his team to a victory over the Athletics with an impressive performance from the mound. Early, who was called up from Triple-A Worcester, had a stellar outing, striking out 11 batters in five scoreless innings. The young pitcher allowed only five hits, demonstrating control and determination in every pitch. Early’s debut was even more remarkable as he tied the record for most strikeouts in a debut with the Red Sox, matching the mark set by Don Aase in 1977. Also, Early became the fifth pitcher since 2000 to achieve 10 strikeouts without allowing runs in his first MLB game, joining a select group of pitchers.Red Sox manager Alex Cora praised Early’s performance, highlighting his preparation and control. Boston’s offense provided early support for Early, with home runs from Romy Gonzalez and Rob Refsnyder in the first inning, setting the tone for the victory. Early, selected in the fifth round of the 2023 amateur draft and ranked as Boston’s seventh prospect, has proven his worth in his rise to the majors.Early, before his debut, recorded an ERA of 2.83 with 36 strikeouts in 28⅔ innings pitched for Triple-A Worcester this season. In Double-A Portland, he was 7-2 with an ERA of 2.51 and 96 strikeouts in 71⅔ innings. Manager Alex Cora highlighted Early’s work. In related news, Dustin May was placed on the injured list due to elbow issues. In addition, infielder Vaughn Grissom was called up from Triple-A Worcester and placed on the 60-day injured list due to plantar fasciitis.It was incredible. Going out and having that first opportunity… it was a long travel day yesterday, but getting to the field and seeing all the guys… it was incredible, and it’s pure joy.
Connelly Early
