Connelly Early has become one of Boston's best pitching prospects. The University of Virginia won a fifth-round draft pick in 2023 – he spent his first two college seasons with the Army – the 23-year-old left-hander had a strikeout rate of 40.4%, with 1.88 ERA and 1.73 FIP in six games, including 24 innings, with Double-A Portland. Additionally, he allowed only 12 hits, none of them left the yard. When our July 2024 2024 Red Sox Top Leads List appeared, a 35+ FV was allocated, and he was recently added to the 2025 board and hit more than 45 times.
His first full professional season started opening his eyes last summer. Effectively establishing itself as a sleeper in a well-stocked Red Sox system, the Central Virginiaman threw 103 2/3 innings between his current level and High-A, recording 3.99 ERA and 3.24 FIP, the highest 30.8% FIP among Boston Farmers, at least one third of 80 frames. I did this very early, which not only better understand my skills, but also a revamped repertoire.
“University, my only grip is mine [four-seam] Fastball. “I told me early at the beginning of the current campaign. “My changes are completely different.” The curve ball grip is different. The sweeper is brand new. My cutter/gyroscope slider is almost the same, but I'm working much more this year at college. ”
The transformation of the former Black Knight into Cavalier is attributed to the education he received at the professional dance because of his great success. Before the selection, he “had no idea about all track and field”; he simply worked with the coach: “Browse the ideal course and try to distinguish shapes as much as possible.”
The motion curve of his curve ball has changed meaningfully. Last season, he made grip adjustments to make edge products a real weapon.
“I didn’t get the depth I wanted, so I achieved a spike,” the early delivery effect was slightly higher than 6 1/2 feet. “By figuring out the index finger and getting more pressure on the middle finger, I added 7-10 inches of depth. I always like to throw a curve ball, so it’s worth a little weird from the start while changing the grip.
He made another noteworthy change to his arsenal and added to the ball that our leading analyst Eric Longenhagen considered the most annoying in the early days. Before last season, the transition from a traditional two-connection circle-changing grip to a single kick early on. Currently at Illinois State University (IL), a member of the Red Sox plays a role.
“I heard the word kicking because Richard Fitts was with one person,” said early. “I worked with him a little bit and then tried it with our pitching coordinator. It ended up working out.
“I didn’t even know that this was a realistic possibility for me,” Southpaw’s low gate added. “I tend to pour the ball better than the spinning ball; I stayed behind it with my wrist. Kicking helps me kill more than the two-point orientation.”
Given his arm slot, the addition of the above sweeper makes a lot of sense. The most horizontal he got when we spoke was “22-23 [inches],” although it usually breaks horizontally in the range of 15-20.
Then there is his heater. The four-hole man, who was relatively tall at 89-91 mph when the UVA stepped on the tablet, is now comfortable at 92-94, flashing higher.
“The speed must have risen,” he said, saying he rode 15-20 inches on four holes. “That's my focus in the offseason. I know that if I can get my fastballs to tick in Velo, then all my other courts will perform better. I think they're in a good position right now. Hopefully the whole season continues.”
So far, so good. Every time he occupied the mound, he opened his eyes more and was about to become a highly anticipated pitching prospect.
