The Boston Red Sox made a splash this offseason by adding three starting pitchers: Sonny Gray, Johan Oviedo, and Ranger Suárez. Many expected these additions to push top prospects Connelly Early and Payton Tolle out of the Opening Day picture. Yet, the Red Sox surprised everyone by naming Early to the big league roster as a starter.
Early is set to start the third game of the year against the Cincinnati Reds, while Johan Oviedo will move to the bullpen. Early's impressive spring training performance earned him this opportunity.
Over 17 innings, he allowed just three runs on 11 hits, striking out 16 and walking five. Meanwhile, Oviedo struggled in his final spring start, signaling he might need more time to adjust.
There was speculation that Early and Tolle would start in the minors to save a year of service time on their contracts, a strategy Boston has used to keep young talent on team-friendly deals longer. Despite promising performances from both, Early seems more prepared for the big leagues than Tolle at this moment.
Last season, the Red Sox delayed Roman Anthony's call-up, likely to manage his service time. This approach isn't new for Boston, and while they've been active this offseason, they're still strategic about their prospects.
To maintain a full year of service time, Early needs to spend 35 days in the minors, while Tolle requires 46. These days can be non-consecutive, so Early might be sent down later to accumulate this time.
Tolle also had a strong spring, allowing three runs on eight hits with 13 strikeouts and a walk over 10.2 innings. At 22, he’s refining his secondary pitches, and some Triple-A seasoning could be beneficial.
Early's well-rounded arsenal and experience from his Wild Card start against the Yankees in 2025 give him an edge. Although his roster spot might not be permanent due to service time considerations, the Red Sox anticipate more rotation reinforcements soon.
Brayan Bello and Ranger Suárez are at the back of the rotation, having participated in the World Baseball Classic and needing more innings. With Kutter Crawford and Patrick Sandoval recovering from injuries, Early provides valuable depth in the meantime.
While Early's stint on the roster may be temporary, his outstanding spring performance justified his inclusion. The Red Sox's pitching depth allows for flexibility, but if Early continues to excel, he could make it difficult for the team to send him back down.