Connelly Early is an American professional baseball pitcher who began his college baseball career at the United States Military Academy (Army) and then transferred to the University of Virginia. He gained notable recognition for his pitching performance at both institutions. Early was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the fifth round (151st overall) of the 2023 Major League Baseball draft. He made his MLB debut in 2025 and quickly made a mark, including tying a Red Sox record for strikeouts in a rookie debut.
Early College Career
- Early started playing college baseball at Army, where he was a standout pitcher with a team-best 14 starts in 16 appearances during his sophomore year, earning accolades such as Patriot League Pitcher of the Year and First Team All-Patriot League. He posted a 3.26 ERA over 85.2 innings and struck out 88 batters in that season.
- After two years at Army, Early transferred to the University of Virginia to keep his professional baseball options open and continued to excel, recording a 12-3 win-loss record at Virginia.
Transition to Professional Baseball
- Early was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in 2023 and began his professional career in the minor leagues before making his MLB debut on September 9, 2025.
- In his debut, he struck out 11 batters in five innings, tying a record for strikeouts in a Red Sox rookie debut.
- Early is known for his strong fastball and strikeout ability.
This journey highlights Early's progression from a high school pitcher in Virginia to a promising professional MLB player, with a distinctive start in college baseball at Army before moving to Virginia for further development and exposure.
