The Red Sox are already rolling, and one of their missing starters just took a meaningful step toward joining the mix again.
Connelly Early, the 24-year-old left-hander who has been out since July 1 with elbow inflammation, threw a light one-inning side session on Friday, according to Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. Smith reported that Early “threw out to 120 feet and completed a light one-inning side session,” and Chad Tracy said, “‘Just to get off the mound,”’ [Chad Tracy] said.
‘It was like, ‘Let’s get him off the mound for the first time.’ The plan is for Early to throw a two-inning side session the next time he gets off a mound.”
Early hasn’t appeared in a major league game since June 30, but before landing on the Injured List he had given Boston exactly what it needed. In 91 2/3 innings, he posted a 3.44 ERA with a 93-to-34 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
That production was especially valuable because Early wasn’t the obvious choice for a rotation job when spring training opened. Johan Oviedo looked like the pitcher lined up for that spot throughout camp, but Early pitched his way into the role and held it down until the injury.
Boston’s rotation has been the engine behind its strong run over the last month, even while the club has been short-handed. Garrett Crochet, Ranger Suárez, Early and Oviedo are all on the Injured List right now, though Suárez could be back on the mound as soon as Sunday. The timeline is less clear for Crochet, Early and Oviedo.
Still, Friday’s side session is a positive sign for Early, even if there’s no official return date yet. The Red Sox are 53-49 and sitting 6 1/2 games out of first place in the American League East, and getting more healthy arms back would only strengthen their push.
In Other News...
Red Sox Top Prospect Just Crossed A Line And Paid For It
Justin Gonzales has become one of the more closely watched names in the Red Sox system, and the High-A Greenville Drive outfielder has the kind of size and power that tends to draw attention fast. Ranked as Bostons No. 3 prospect, he has been building a reputation as a player with loud tools and the sort of ceiling that makes every trip to the plate feel worth tracking.
The latest buzz, though, came from a moment that had little to do with prospect polish and everything to do with emotions running hot after a home run. The confrontation with Cal Stark turned a routine minor-league at-bat into a benches-clearing scene and quickly pushed Gonzales into the kind of spotlight teams usually try to avoid, leaving the Red Sox to manage both the talent and the fallout. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Have A Clear Infield Trade Fit They Can't Ignore
With roughly two weeks left before the trade deadline, the Red Sox are being cast as buyers rather than sellers, and the infield is one area that still looks like it could use a jolt. Boston has been linked to help on the dirt, and analyst Jim Bowden recently pointed to a contact-oriented infielder as the kind of addition that could fit both the lineup and the defense.
The appeal is easy to see from the Red Sox side. Their offense has spent too much time in the bottom third of the league in on-base production, so a bat that puts the ball in play has obvious value, and Bowden also noted the players improved work defensively after once being viewed as a well-below-average second baseman. For a club trying to stay aggressive at the deadline, that kind of profile is the sort of fit that can be hard to ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Linked To Big Giants Veteran As Deadline Pressure Builds
The Red Sox are still hovering just above .500, but with the American League playoff race tight and the trade deadline drawing closer, Boston is being mentioned in a familiar kind of rumor mill. Reports have tied the club to a few notable names, including Angels shortstop Zach Neto and several Giants veterans, a sign the front office is at least exploring ways to add impact without losing sight of the bigger picture.
Matt Chapman is one of the more interesting names in that mix, but he also comes with the kind of price tag and current production that can make a fit complicated. Boston already has Caleb Durbin handling third base, so the appeal would have to come from elsewhere, and the other Giants names floating around, Willy Adames and Rafael Devers, may line up more cleanly with what the Red Sox need as they try to stay in the race. [Read more 🡒]