Connelly Early is back on the mound, and the Nationals are finally getting a look at what they traded for.
After arriving in DC injured and then suffering a setback that pushed back his return, Early is making his first rehab start today in West Palm Beach. He’s doing it in the “Bridge League,” a controlled setting at the team’s Spring Training site that often houses high school draftees and FCL players once their season is over. Early was initially lined up for a Low-A playoff game, but the club chose the Bridge League instead.
That switch makes sense. A playoff atmosphere would have been a pretty charged first step back, and the Nats clearly don’t want their right-hander getting too amped in his first outing off the shelf.
There’s still no guarantee Early gets into an MLB game before the season ends. Best case, he gets one or two starts. Still, given how this year has unfolded since Washington sent Curtis Mead for him, a brief look would at least give the Nats something real to build on if he’s fully healthy.
The encouraging part is that Early has already shown plenty to like when he’s right. In 91.2 innings this season, he put up a 3.44 ERA and struck out 93 batters. The deeper numbers are less flattering - a 4.60 FIP, 4.32 xERA and 4.10 xFIP - but the production was there, and he handled himself like a pitcher who belongs.
He’s also got the kind of arsenal that makes you stop and watch. Early works with six pitches and trusts all of them.
The fastballs aren’t overpowering, but both his four-seamer and sinker move well: the sinker produces ground balls, while the four-seamer gets whiffs. Against lefties, the sweeper stands out.
He threw it just 7.9% of the time, which feels low considering batters hit only .103 against it and he got 21 strikeouts with the pitch. Against right-handers, the changeup is the weapon, and that was viewed as his best pitch as a prospect.
That variety matters because Early doesn’t have to force one answer in every matchup. He can mix and match depending on who’s in the box and what’s working that day. When the command is there, the whole package plays.
His command, though, is still the next step. It’s closer to average than plus right now, and while his walk rates are around average, he can still miss badly enough to get burned.
That helped lead to a lot of home runs this season. Even so, there’s enough feel in the profile to believe that part can improve as he keeps developing.
The last time Early pitched before the injury, he was facing the Nats themselves. That came against Cade Cavalli in his famous outing in Boston, and Early was cruising through four innings with no runs allowed and five strikeouts. CJ Abrams was one of the hitters he punched out, and Early made him look silly.
He’s already shown he can handle a big moment, too. Last year, he took the ball in a winner-take-all game against the Yankees, looked sharp, and pitched well, even though the defense behind him let him down and Cam Schlittler was better.
That’s why the anxiety around the Mead-for-Early trade feels a little overdone right now. The elbow issues are real and they’re scary, but the source of the concern isn’t structural damage.
He’s pitching in a game today. If he stays healthy, Early still looks like the kind of middle-of-the-rotation arm who can matter for a long time - maybe even as a quality No. 3 starter who can take playoff starts down the road.
In Other News...
Nationals Fans Got A Notable Roster Hint In Tuesdays Notes
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For a Washington club still sorting through the edges of its relief picture, that kind of quick rise matters. Glasseys arsenal has drawn enough attention to keep him on the radar, and the early returns suggest the Nationals may have found a pitcher who can push for real bullpen consideration sooner rather than later, even if the next step in his path is still the part everyone wants to see play out. [Read more 🡒]
Nationals Catcher Drew Millas Faces Troubling New Injury Question
Drew Millas path back behind the plate has taken another troubling turn, with the Nationals catcher dealing with a setback in the recovery from the left index finger injury that has bothered him for more than a year. Millas had surgery on the finger in August 2025, and the pain eventually sent him to the injured list in July 2026, a frustrating stretch for a player whose value to Washington hinges on staying available and catching regularly.
Now the focus shifts to what comes next, and whether there is any way to avoid another round of treatment. Millas is heading back to Washington to get a second opinion, which gives the Nationals at least a chance to better understand the damage and the options, but it also underlines how uncertain the situation has become for a catcher trying to get his season and his health back on track. [Read more 🡒]