The youth movement in Boston has another early addition.

The Boston Red Sox are expected to promote left-handed pitching prospect Connelly Early from Triple-A Worcester on Tuesday, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reports. Early will start in Tuesday’s game against the Athletics in Sacramento, while right-hander Dustin May will go on the injured list in a corresponding move, per Rosenthal.

Early’s expected promotion comes less than two weeks after the Red Sox called up another lefty prospect, Payton Tolle, who already has made two starts for Boston.

So, what’s the skinny on Early, and why are the Red Sox promoting him now? Here’s what you need to know about the 23-year-old southpaw.

Connelly Early’s bio and stats

Age: 23

Height/weight: 6-foot-3, 195 pounds

College: University of Virginia

Drafted: Fifth round of the 2023 MLB Draft (151 overall)

2025 stats at Double-A Portland (15 games, 12 starts): 7-2 record, 71.2 IP, 2.51 ERA, 1.130 WHIP, 11 BB, 36 SO

2025 stats at Triple-A Worcester (six games, six starts): 3-1 record, 28.2 IP, 2.83 ERA, 1.047 WHIP, 29 BB, 52 SO

Early began the 2025 season at Double-A Portland and pitched very well for the Sea Dogs with a 2.51 ERA through 15 appearances. He earned the call-up to Triple-A Worcester at the beginning of August and continued his success with the WooSox, allowing two runs or fewer in five of his six starts.

The Virginia product is the No. 6 prospect in Boston’s system, per MLB Pipeline, and the Red Sox’ fourth-ranked pitching prospect behind Tolle, 2025 draft pick Kyson Witherspoon and 22-year-old left-hander Brandon Clarke.

Connelly Early’s scouting report

Early has a fastball that tops out at 96 mph, but his best pitch is his changeup, which MLB Pipeline describes as “lively.”

“Early can’t overpower hitters but has the feel to provide consistent strikes without catching too much of the plate,” MLB Pipeline wrote in its scouting report of Early. “He throws his fastball just one third of the time, just enough to keep hitters honest and set up his secondary pitches, and his heater may need more velocity or life at higher levels.”

Early doesn’t have Tolle’s fastball – who does – but he has a better current array of secondary pitches that he can control and get whiffs with (31% whiff vs RHH on his CH, SL, CU). He’s been working with 6 pitches. Holding velocity has been a question. pic.twitter.com/1Hs8snLoks

— Stats (@redsoxstats) September 9, 2025

Early has excelled at every level of the minors so far and has managed to keep the ball in the park, with just five home runs allowed over 100.1 innings of work this season.

Good look at Connelly Early’s last start.

He’s made 6 starts since reaching AAA with a 2.83 ERA/3.06 FIP in 28.2 IP. 11.3 K/9 and 3.5 BB/9. Has limited homers with a 0.6 HR/9.

Nasty changeup. Been a battle for him to maintain velo deep into outings.pic.twitter.com/I3HmWEq4AR

— Tyler Milliken (@tylermilliken_) September 9, 2025

Why are the Red Sox promoting Early now?

Early had a projected big-league ETA of 2026, but the Red Sox are hurting for arms at the moment. Kutter Crawford, Hunter Dobbins, Tanner Houck and Patrick Sandoval are all out for the year, while May will join Richard Fitts and Cooper Criswell on the injured list as well.

So, outside of Boston’s “big three” of Garrett Crochet, Lucas Giolito and Brayan Bello, manager Alex Cora doesn’t have much pitching depth to work with, to the point where he resorted to a “bullpen game” last Wednesday against the Cleveland Guardians.

It is a bit curious that the Red Sox have yet to promote Kyle Harrison, the 24-year-old lefty acquired in the Rafael Devers trade who has actual MLB experience. But considering Tolle and now Early have been called up ahead of him, it appears the team believes Harrison has more room for improvement before making his Red Sox big-league debut.

Early will take the mound against A’s left-hander Jeffrey Springs in Sacramento on Tuesday, with first pitch set for 10:05 p.m. ET.