Red Sox lefty, long shot to make team, eager for first start

Connelly Early surprisingly earned a spot in the Red Sox rotation after strong spring training performance.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 8:48pm

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Connelly Early, a Red Sox left-handed pitcher, was not expected to make the team's Opening Day roster this spring. However, after some injuries and setbacks with other pitchers, Early earned a spot in the starting rotation and will make his 2026 debut on Sunday against the Cincinnati Reds.

Why it matters

Early's unexpected rise to the major league roster is a feel-good story for the Red Sox, who are looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2025 season. His performance in his first start of the year could set the tone for the rest of his season and determine if he can solidify a spot in the rotation going forward.

The details

Early was tasked with getting bigger and stronger over the offseason, with the goal of pitching deeper into games. He focused on that in spring training and now gets to apply what he learned in a major league setting. Early made four starts at the end of last year and another in the Wild Card round against the Yankees, giving him some experience at the big league level.

  • Early was a surprising addition to the Red Sox rotation late in spring training.
  • Early will make his 2026 debut on Sunday, April 2, against the Cincinnati Reds.

The players

Connelly Early

A left-handed pitcher for the Boston Red Sox who was not expected to make the team's Opening Day roster but earned a spot in the starting rotation after a strong spring training performance.

Johan Oviedo

A pitcher the Red Sox acquired, who stumbled during spring training, opening the door for Early to make the roster.

Ranger Suárez

A Red Sox pitcher who did not get the expected workload in the World Baseball Classic, also contributing to Early's roster spot.

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What they’re saying

“It's special. I'm super excited about it.”

— Connelly Early, Red Sox pitcher

“I'm trying to just stay me 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.”

— Connelly Early, Red Sox pitcher

“I feel like mentally, I'm in a really good spot, going into this outing. Hopefully, we can carry over from what I did last season and what I did this whole offseason and be in a good spot on the mound.”

— Connelly Early, Red Sox pitcher

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

Early's unexpected rise to the major league roster is a feel-good story for the Red Sox, who are looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2025 season. His performance in his first start of the year could set the tone for the rest of his season and determine if he can solidify a spot in the rotation going forward.