Boston Red Sox fans searching for the next young arm to watch in the organization have a few options to choose from.
One of them is left-hander Connelly Early.
A new breakdown from Bleacher Report named the 23-year-old Early as the club's top breakout pitching candidate for the 2026 season.
Early appeared in four starts last September and delivered a 2.33 ERA with a 1.09 WHIP. He punched out 29 batters against only four walks in 19.1 innings, flashing the kind of command that turns heads in camp. That September surge even earned him a postseason start, giving him valuable big-league experience ahead of this year.
As spring training opens, Early enters a battle for the fifth starter spot with offseason addition Johan Oviedo and others. If he does not claim the role immediately, he remains one of the first pitchers the Red Sox plan to summon from Triple-A whenever the rotation needs help. His strikeout-to-walk numbers suggest he can handle increased workload without major issues.
The Red Sox already feature one of the deeper rotations in the American League, led by Garrett Crochet and strengthened by offseason additions Ovideo, Ranger Suarez and Sonny Gray.
Early could push the group from good to elite and help the club navigate the long season in a tough division.
With workouts underway in camp, Early's progress will be one of the most closely followed storylines in Fort Myers
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