Now that he’s made the rotation, Connelly Early could make an immediate impact for the Boston Red Sox.

Early received Boston’s final starting spot over Johan Oviedo after an impressive spring training. The southpaw joins Garrett Crochet, Sonny Gray, Ranger Suarez and Brayan Bello in a formidable group, but one analyst thinks the rookie will outshine some of his notable peers.

FanGraphs David Laurila declared in a bold predictions article that Early will be the Red Sox’s second-best starting pitcher this season.

“Early will do more than simply establish himself this season; he will outperform all the other members of the Red Sox rotation with the exception of Crochet,” Laurila said. “Featuring an expansive repertoire that he augments with a combination of guile and steely-eyed calm, Early is a pitcher’s pitcher. It is probably too soon to anoint him the next Bruce Hurst or John Tudor, but the erstwhile Red Sox southpaws nonetheless serve as solid comps. On the doorstep of his first Opening Day, Early is poised to excel.”

Laurila understandably wasn’t feeling bold enough to put Early over Crochet, who tossed six shutout innings in Thursday’s Opening Day win over the Cincinnati Reds. It’s nevertheless an aggressive proclamation considering the newcomer’s teammates.

Gray owns a 3.58 career ERA and has exceeded 200 strikeouts in back-to-back seasons. The Red Sox awarded Suarez a five-year, $130 million contract after he posted a 3.20 ERA for the Philadelphia Phillies last season.

Bello broke out to register a 3.35 ERA in 2025 and has made 87 starts in the last three seasons. Oviedo also notched a 3.57 ERA for the Pittsburgh Pirates last year.

Early could still have a successful campaign as Boston’s fifth-best starter. Pitching well enough to maintain a rotation spot would be an achievement with Oviedo, Patrick Sandoval, Kutter Crawford and fellow rookie Payton Tolle all waiting for an opportunity.

He’s also capable of much more. Early earned a late call-up by authoring a 2.60 ERA and 132 strikeouts in 100 1/3 minor league innings last year, and he continued to miss bats with 29 punchouts in 19 1/3 big league frames.

Early is slated to start Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Reds, which begins at 1:40 p.m. ET on NESN.

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