The Red Sox are calling up left-handed pitcher Connelly Early, ranked by MLB Pipeline as their No. 6 prospect, to start Tuesday's game against the Athletics, a source told MLB.com’s Ian Browne.
Right-hander Dustin May, who was Boston’s scheduled starting pitcher, is expected to land on the injured list, per Browne. The team has not confirmed the moves.
Early, a fifth-round Draft pick in 2023, owns a 2.83 ERA over six starts (28 2/3 innings) at Triple-A Worcester this season. Combined with his work at Double-A this year, Early has a 2.60 ERA over 100 1/3 frames and has limited hitters to a .197 batting average.
Early possesses four pitches that are projected to be at least league-average, earning 50 grades or higher from MLB Pipeline on the 20-80 scouting scale. His fastball can reach into the mid-90s, but he uses it only about one-third of the time. He blends it with a low-80s changeup, an upper-70s curveball and a sweeping, low-80s slider that might be his best offering.
Although Early isn’t known as a strikeout artist, he did record 10 K’s over six innings in his most recent start on Sept. 2, the highest strikeout total in any of his 45 Minor League games.
May has a 5.40 ERA through six appearances (five starts) since being acquired by the Red Sox from the Dodgers on July 31. He last pitched on Wednesday, hurling three innings of one-run ball out of the bullpen during an 8-1 loss to the Guardians.