Red Sox Reportedly Make Major Pre-Deadline Promotions

The Boston Red Sox reportedly promoted two pitching prospects on Sunday.

Connelly Early and David Sandlin are headed to Triple-A Worcester, according to Beyond the Monster’s Andrew Parker. SoxProspects’ Chris Hatfield confirmed the news, which comes at an interesting time.

Boston is currently preparing for what promises to be an impactful trade deadline, so perhaps these promotions were made as a precursor to another bigger move that is still coming together? It’s also entirely possible that the timing is completely coincidental, but where is the fun in that?

Early (No. 10 on SoxProspects), Sandlin (No. 11) and Peyton Tolle (No. 3) became quite the three-headed monster for Double-A Portland this summer, with the former two currently serving as the closest pitching prospects to major league promotion.

Early, 23, has put together a strong showing in his third season within the organization, collecting a 2.51 ERA across 71 2/3 innings pitched. Sandlin, 24, hasn’t been nearly as dominant — 3.61 ERA in 82 1/3 innings pitched — but has the type of stuff that could play in a major league setting almost instantly.

The Red Sox won’t plan on rushing either to the next level, but the pitching infrastructure and depth the organization prioritized building is finally starting to show itself.