Paul Toboni dropped a notable update on the radio this morning: Connelly Early is lined up to pitch for the Nationals before the season ends. Toboni said he expects the left-hander to take the ball in the second-to-last game of the year, on September 26.
That gives Early a clear target as he works his way back from injury, and it also puts a little extra juice into a late-season stretch that already had some interest. The final series against the Mets carried its own angle, with both teams trying to avoid last place. Now there’s another reason to watch.
Early took a step forward yesterday with his first rehab start at Triple-A. The outing wasn’t clean, but it did what it needed to do.
He looked sharp in the first inning, striking out two hitters, and his fastball sat in the 93-94 MPH range while his sinker was around 91-92. That’s a touch below his season averages, but not in a way that raises alarms, especially for a first time back.
He also showed all six of his pitches.
The second inning told a different story. Early opened the frame by allowing a walk and a hit, then lost a 10-pitch battle and issued another walk.
He got ahead of the next hitter but reached his 35-pitch limit and was pulled. Fellow deadline addition Jack Cebert came in, struck out that batter, and then watched all three inherited runners score.
The stat line from the rehab appearance looks rough, but that’s not really the point at this stage. What matters is that Early got through it healthy and showed enough life in the stuff to keep moving toward his debut. By that measure, it was a solid day.
The road to this point has had its bumps. When the Connelly Early-for-Curtis Mead trade was made, it looked like it might help both clubs right away.
Early was hurt, but there was optimism he could return in mid to late August, while Mead was expected to give the Red Sox lineup a lift. Instead, Early had a setback and Mead broke his wrist in his first game, leaving the deal as a wash so far.
Early’s forearm tightness had Nationals fans understandably on edge, because multiple arm issues in a short span is never something a pitcher wants attached to his name. But the worst-case concern appears to have been avoided.
What happens next is still up in the air. He could make another rehab start at Triple-A, or the Nationals could choose to have him throw a live bullpen in DC.
The Triple-A season ends this week, though Rochester should reach the International League playoffs, so Toboni will need to map out the next step. That’s something I’d expect to ask about today.
For now, the key point is simple: Early is moving closer. Toboni’s timeline gives the Nationals a date, and if everything stays on track, the lefty should get his chance at Nationals Park in 10 days.
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