After making multiple pitching additions this offseason, the Boston Red Sox are rounding out their starting rotation with lefty pitching prospect Connelly Early.
Early impressed late last season, posting a 2.33 ERA across 19 1/3 innings pitched, earning himself a postseason start. The 23-year-old carried on his success this spring, boasting a 1.59 ERA in five appearances. With Boston choosing to carry Early on its 26-man roster, the Red Sox’s No. 1 overall prospect, Payton Tolle, was sent back to the minor leagues.
Tolle also made his big league debut last season, but will begin this season in Triple-A despite a solid spring training showing. Red Sox manager Alex Cora opened up on why the team won’t carry the top prospect on their roster to begin the season.
“Can’t have both in the big leagues. That’s the way we saw it,” Cora said, per The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier. “We’re here to win a lot of games in April, but we’re here to win a lot of games over 162. It doesn’t make sense roster-wise to carry both of them. Just felt like Early kind of earned that spot.
“Tolle did everything that we asked him to do. There’s still some development, and he’ll do that. We added some pitches throughout camp and the offseason, and he’s going to keep improving down there, and at one point, without making promises, I believe he’s going to contribute at this level. But it’s not right now.”
The Red Sox are flush with talented pitchers and could have one of the best starting rotations in the league after adding Ranger Suárez, Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo this offseason. Tolle beginning the season in the minor leagues may be the best thing for the young hurler, as he’ll be able to get opportunities to develop without being relegated to a role out of the bullpen.
Despite Tolle opening the season in Triple-A, the Red Sox have a long season ahead of them, and it would be surprising if the organization’s top prospect doesn’t make an appearance in the big leagues.
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