Rumor: Red Sox Call Up Prospect To Start In Place Of Dustin May

The Boston Red Sox pitching staff continues to take hits. Most recently, Dustin May is reportedly being placed on the injured list, and Connelly Early is being called up as his replacement, according to Ken Rosenthal.

May was scheduled to start Tuesday’s game against the Athletics after spending a brief stint in the bullpen. Instead, Early will make his major league debut. Early was scheduled to start for Triple-A Worcester on Sunday, but was scratched just before game time at the Red Sox’s request.

The left-handed pitcher has appeared in 23 games between Double-A Portland and Triple-A this season, registering a 2.60 ERA over 100 1/3 innings. He’s shown serious bat-missing ability, striking out 31.9% of opponents.

Much like fellow lefty-prospect Payton Tolle, Early throws a flat fastball from a low arm slot that’s difficult for hitters to square up. The pitch has returned excellent swing and miss numbers in the minor leagues.

His changeup is his best weapon and should help him against an A’s lineup full of right-handed hitters. The pitch has good depth and horizontal movement, working in tandem with his fastball to punch hitters out. His 20.7% swinging strike rate in Triple-A is the best in his arsenal.

While the Red Sox will want to protect Early’s arm, he shouldn’t have too many limitations. His 100 1/3 innings are just below a career high, but they won’t cap him there. With 17 games remaining, he should only be needed three times at the most. His most recent outing was a 92-pitch, six-inning performance, so pitch count isn’t a huge concern either.

Early isn’t on the 40-man roster, so he’ll require a spot. With the 40-man roster getting full due to unexpected call-ups, an offseason trade of Rule-5 eligible players may be necessary to avoid losing talented prospects for no compensation.

The Red Sox are yet to officially announce any move.