Tampa, FL—–The Boston Red Sox may still have decisions to make before Opening Day, but rookie left-hander Connelly Early is making that choice increasingly difficult.
Early delivered one of the most impressive performances of spring training on Wednesday, tossing five shutout innings in a narrow 1-0 loss to the New York Yankees. The young pitcher allowed just one hit while striking out seven and issuing two walks, showcasing both command and composure across 75 pitches.
From the outset, Early was in control. He retired the first eight batters he faced and navigated early innings with ease. Trouble briefly surfaced in the fourth when he gave up a single, hit a batter, and watched both runners advance into scoring position. But instead of unraveling, Early responded with back-to-back strikeouts to escape the jam unscathed.
He followed that with a clean fifth inning before exiting after a leadoff walk in the sixth, closing the book on another standout outing. His fastball sat just under 95 mph, while his curveball proved especially effective, generating swings and misses and accounting for multiple strikeouts.
Through five Grapefruit League appearances, Early has been one of Boston’s most reliable arms. He owns a 1.59 ERA over 17 innings, with 16 strikeouts and opponents hitting just .182 against him—numbers that continue to strengthen his case for a roster spot.
Despite the strong pitching effort, Boston’s offense couldn’t capitalize. The Red Sox managed seven hits but failed to convert in key moments, going hitless in nine chances with runners in scoring position. Jason Delay led the way offensively with a perfect 3-for-3 performance, though the lineup largely consisted of players unlikely to make the final roster.
New York’s lone run came in the eighth inning under unusual circumstances. After issuing two walks, Boston reliever Tyler Uberstine saw the inning unravel when a throwing error by catcher Ronald Rosario allowed Kenedy Corona to score the game’s only run.
On the Yankees’ side, all eyes were on Gerrit Cole, who made his first game appearance since undergoing Tommy John surgery in early 2025. The ace worked a scoreless inning, giving up two singles but avoiding further damage in a brief and controlled return.
While the final score favored New York, the day ultimately belonged to Early, whose continued dominance this spring is turning heads and forcing the Red Sox to seriously consider giving him a spot when the season begins.
