WORCESTER — Double-A Portland manager Chad Epperson called top Red Sox pitching prospects Connelly Early and David Sandlin into his office Sunday, telling them “it’s that time of the year.”

The MLB trade deadline is Thursday at 6 p.m. and Epperson had the two pitchers thinking they were being dealt.

“It’s really good for you guys, but sucks for us. You guys have been added in a package deal for a trade,” Early said Epperson told them.

Epperson instructed them to go see Portland trainer Bobby Stachura, who would handle their travel plans and help them “figure out how to get up to Worcester.”

Come to find out, they were switching teams but not organizations. The Red Sox promoted them to Triple-A Worcester.

“My mind was all over the place thinking about where could I possibly be going — if I was gonna have to ship my car all the way to the West Coast or whatnot,” Early said. “Definitely a very tough time hearing that. And then a very, very good time after hearing (about the promotion).”

Baseball America ranks Early the Red Sox’ No. 11 prospect and Sandlin No. 12.

Early, a 23-year-old lefty, went 7-2 with a 2.51 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in 15 games (12 starts) for Portland. He had a 96-to-29 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 71 ⅔ innings and opponents batted .202 against him.

Sandlin, a 24-year-old righty who reached 99.1 mph with his fastball in his last start, went 5-4 with a 3.61 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in 17 outings (13 starts) for Portland. He had 86 strikeouts and 27 walks in 82 ⅓ innings. Opponents batted .227 against him.

Portland played in Richmond, Va. this past week. Early is a Midlothian, Va., native. And so his parents and siblings were there at the game Sunday when he received the promotion news from Epperson.

“I actually had all my three brothers there. It’s been the first time I’ve had all my brothers at a game in a long time,” Early said. “So that was amazing to have them there.”

Early didn’t travel back to Portland on the team bus Sunday. He had bought a plane ticket months ago to fly back Monday. That way, he could spend an extra night with his family.

“So ended up staying the night with my family, got to eat dinner with all of them and enjoy the night together,” he said. “My family was going to Hilton Head Island for a vacation and then I was coming up here. So we were all in the airport at the same time and parted ways.”

Early had a 4:30 p.m. flight Monday. He arrived in Portland at around 10 p.m.

“Had to rush to pack my apartment,” said Early, who drove to Worcester today.

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