Red Sox Southpaw ‘Pushing For Promotion,’ MLB Insiders Say

The kids are all right.

Red Sox rookies Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell and Marcelo Mayer are playing big roles in Boston’s resurgence this month. But there’s still plenty of talent down on the farm for president of baseball operations Craig Breslow to monitor.

Here’s one name to remember: Connelly Early. That’s according to MLB.com’s Sam Dykstra, Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo, who identified one prospect on each team pushing for a promotion.

The 23-year-old Early is ranked the No. 10 prospect in Boston’s farm system. “The Red Sox have helped Early upgrade his stuff since drafting him in the fifth round out of Virginia in 2023, and he now deals with a 92-95 mph fastball that touches 97 and also misses bats with his low-80s slider and changeup,” the trio wrote.

“He’s dominating in Double-A with a 2.27 ERA, .205 opponent average and 66 strikeouts through 43 2/3 innings.”

According to the latest scouting report by MILB.com, the 6’3″ left-hander is projected to reach the big leagues next season.

“He’s probably not more than a back-of-the-rotation option, but he may have the highest floor among Red Sox starting pitching prospects,” per MILB.com.

Anthony and Mayer remain Boston’s top-ranked prospects. The club’s No. 3 prospect, infielder Franklin Arias, is turning heads at High-A Greenville, where he’s hitting .315 with four home runs and 26 RBI in 38 games.

Right-hander Luis Perales and outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia round out Boston’s top five prospects. Newly-acquired outfielder James Tibbs, who came to the Red Sox as part of the Rafael Devers trade, is ranked No. 6.