Connelly Early

Connelly Early
Early with Army in 2022
Washington Nationals – No. 19
Pitcher
Born: (2002-04-03) April 3, 2002
Midlothian, Virginia, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
MLB debut
September 9, 2025, for the Boston Red Sox
MLB statistics
(through June 30, 2026)
Win–loss record8–7
Earned run average3.24
Strikeouts122
Stats at Baseball Reference 
Teams

Todd Connelly McNeil Early (born April 3, 2002) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Boston Red Sox. He made his MLB debut in 2025.

Amateur career

Early attended James River High School in Midlothian, Virginia, and played college baseball at the United States Military Academy at West Point as well as the University of Virginia.[1]

Professional career

Boston Red Sox

Early was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the fifth round, with the 151st overall selection, of the 2023 Major League Baseball draft.[2] He signed with the team and made his professional debut with the Single-A Salem Red Sox. He split the 2024 with campaign between the High-A Greenville Drive and Double-A Portland Sea Dogs.[3]

Early began the 2025 season with Portland, and received a promotion to the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox.[4] In 21 appearances (18 starts) split between the two affiliates, he accumulated a 10–3 record and 2.60 ERA with 132 strikeouts across 100+1⁄3 innings pitched.[5]

On September 9, 2025, Early was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time; he made his MLB debut that day.[6] Starting against the Athletics, he struck out 11 batters in five innings pitched. Early's performance tied a record for strikeouts in a Red Sox rookie debut, set by Don Aase in 1977.[7] On October 2, Early started the deciding Game 3 of the American League Wild Card series against the New York Yankees. He allowed three earned runs over 3+2⁄3 innings with six strikeouts and one walk, as the Yankees won the game 4–0.[8]

Early made the Red Sox Opening Day roster in 2026 as the third member of Boston's starting rotation.[9]

Washington Nationals

On July 25, 2026, the Red Sox traded Early to the Washington Nationals in exchange for Curtis Mead.[10] He was transferred to the 60–day injured list on August 22, as a result of elbow inflammation.[11]

References

  1. ↑ Graham, Chris (June 7, 2023). "UVA lefty Connelly Early on his improvement on the mound: 'One pitch at a time'". Augusta Free Press. Retrieved April 5, 2026.
  2. ↑ "James River's Connelly Early selected on Day 2 of the MLB Draft". richmond.com. July 10, 2023.
  3. ↑ Smith, Christopher (August 28, 2024). "Red Sox prospect piling up strikeouts, got Yankees' Anthony Rizzo twice". masslive. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Boston's top pitching prospects start the season with Portland". centralmaine.com. April 7, 2025.
  5. ↑ Adams, Steve (September 9, 2025). "Red Sox Promote Connelly Early, Place Dustin May On Injured List". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
  6. ↑ "Red Sox calling up No. 6 prospect Early to start tonight (source)". MLB.com. September 9, 2025.
  7. ↑ DeRosa, Theo (September 9, 2025). "Early success! Sox rookie ties franchise record with electric 11-K debut". MLB.com. Retrieved September 10, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Red Sox vs Yankees". ESPN.com. October 2, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Connelly Early to break camp with Red Sox, start vs. Reds". ESPN.com. March 24, 2026. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  10. ↑ https://www.mlb.com/news/curtis-mead-red-sox-trade
  11. ↑ "Nationals Claim Matt Waldron". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved August 22, 2026.
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