Connelly Early - MLB News, Rumors, & Updates

Impressive in short Nats debut Early didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 7-1 loss to the Mets, allowing just one hit over three scoreless innings. He struck out one without walking a batter.

Impact Making his first appearance as a National after being acquired from the Red Sox in late July for Curtis Mead (wrist), Early was on a strict pitch count after recovering from elbow inflammation that had kept him on the shelf since June 30. The 24-year-old southpaw made the most of his limited workload, firing 21 of 34 pitches for strikes and facing just one batter over the minimum. Early wraps up his season with a 3.33 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 94:34 K:BB through 94.2 innings, and with a healthy offseason he'll head into 2027 as one of the top arms in the Washington rotation alongside Cade Cavalli.

2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Mets beat Nationals 7-1 behind 2 homers from Mauricio and 3-run drive by Ewing

2 DAYS AGO • Associated Press

Early makes much-anticipated Nationals debut with 3 scoreless innings WASHINGTON – Two months exactly after he was acquired from the Red Sox, left-hander Connelly Early made his anticipated debut with the Natio...

2 DAYS AGO • MLB.COM

Activated for start The Nationals reinstated Early (elbow) from the 60-day injured list Saturday.

Impact Out since July 1 with left elbow inflammation, Early has since been traded from Boston to Washington and will be making his debut with the Nationals on Saturday. The left-hander pitched just 2.2 innings over the course of two rehab outings and is expected to throw roughly 2-to-3 innings Saturday before handing the ball to Jake Irvin for bulk-relief work. Luis Perales was optioned to Triple-A to make room on the active roster for Early, and Chase Hampton was DFA'd to clear a 40-man spot.

2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Making Nationals debut Saturday Early (elbow) will be activated from the 60-day injured list and make his Nationals debut with a start Saturday versus the Mets, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.

Impact Early is scheduled to throw 2-to-3 innings before handing things over to Jake Irvin, who will serve in a bulk relief role. The left-handed Early was acquired from the Red Sox at the trade deadline while recovering from left elbow inflammation, an injury that's kept him from appearing in the majors since late June. Early made two rehab starts, logging a total of 2.2 innings while allowing six runs (three earned) with a 4:5 K:BB.

3 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Set to join Washington for final series Early (elbow) is expected to be activated from the 60-day injured list to make his Nationals debut at some point during this weekend's series versus the Mets, MLB.com reports.

Impact Acquired from the Red Sox back on July 26, Early finally appears ready to join the Nationals following a lengthy recovery from left elbow inflammation. He made his second and final rehab appearance this past Sunday at Triple-A Rochester, yielding three unearned runs over 1.2 innings while tossing 40 pitches. Since Early isn't stretched out enough to handle a traditional starting role, the Nationals could look to have him piggyback either Jake Irvin or DJ Herz, who will start Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

3 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Tracking toward Sept. 26 return Nationals president of baseball operations Paul Toboni said Wednesday that Early (elbow) is tentatively scheduled to make his team debut Sept. 26 against the Mets, Spencer Nusbaum...

Impact Early made his first rehab appearance with Triple-A Rochester on Tuesday, allowing three runs and throwing 35 pitches in one inning. The southpaw is scheduled to throw again Sunday -- presumably at Rochester -- before making his Nationals debut on the penultimate day of the regular season. Acquired at the trade deadline from the Red Sox, Early has missed the better part of three months with left elbow inflammation.

SEPTEMBER 17 • ROTOWIRE

Paul Toboni Reveals When Connelly Early Is Going to Make His Nationals Debut There was a lot of mystery surrounding left-handed pitcher Connelly Early about if or when he would be making his Washington Nationals debut...

SEPTEMBER 16 • SI.COM

Labors through first rehab start Early (elbow) was charged with three runs on two hits and two walks over one inning in his first rehab start with Triple-A Rochester on Tuesday.

Impact Making his first appearance since late June, Early showed considerable rust in needing 35 pitches to get through his lone inning of work. He averaged 93 mph with his four-seamer in the outing, which is one mph less than his average for the season. As long as Early recovers well from the start, he could make his Nationals debut next week. It would be an abbreviated outing but could offer the southpaw some peace of mind with his health heading into the offseason. Early missed nearly three months with left elbow inflammation.

SEPTEMBER 16 • ROTOWIRE

Likely to make first rehab start Tuesday Early (elbow) is expected to begin his rehab assignment Tuesday with Triple-A Rochester, Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic reports.

Impact Early had been scheduled to kick off his rehab assignment and make his organizational debut Sunday with Double-A Harrisburg, but the affiliate's game was rained out that day. The Nationals will now look to have Early report to their Triple-A affiliate to continue building on his workload, after he tossed 30 pitches in a bridge league game one week earlier. After his upcoming rehab start, the Nationals could elect to bring Early back from the 60-day injured list for his next outing, though he likely wouldn't be stretched out enough to handle a traditional starting role.

SEPTEMBER 15 • ROTOWIRE

Nationals Have to Get Creative After Connelly Early's Planned Start Gets Canceled The Washington Nationals are being forced to get creative when it comes to how Connelly Early is going to get some work in before the end of...

SEPTEMBER 14 • SI.COM

Nationals Pitcher Connelly Early Scheduled for Important Rehab Step The saga surrounding injured Washington Nationals pitcher Connelly Early continues. After he was a marquee in-season addition when the Natio...

SEPTEMBER 12 • SI.COM

Next outing could come at Double-A Early (elbow) is tentatively set to pitch for Double-A Harrisburg on Sunday, MLB.com reports.

Impact The southpaw threw 30 pitches in a Bridge League game Tuesday, so he could be targeting 40-50 during his appearance with Harrisburg. Early has yet to make his Nationals debut after being acquired from the Red Sox in July, but he may be able to join the big-league club before the end of the season if all goes well Sunday. Over 17 starts this year for Boston prior to being shut down with elbow inflammation, Early delivered a 3.44 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 93:34 K:BB through 91.2 innings.

SEPTEMBER 10 • ROTOWIRE

Throwing in bridge game Tuesday Early (elbow) will make an appearance in a bridge game Tuesday at the Nationals' spring training complex in Florida, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.

Impact Though it will not go down as an official appearance, Early will be pitching in a game for the first time since he went down with left elbow inflammation in early July. It's unclear how many pitches Early is scheduled to throw Tuesday, but he will likely require at least one additional rehab start before joining the big-league rotation. Early was acquired from the Red Sox at the trade deadline and will be making his Nationals debut when he gets into a game.

SEPTEMBER 7 • ROTOWIRE

Nearing rehab assignment Nationals manager Blake Butera said Friday that Early (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment Sept. 8, Kyle Williams of TheBanner.com reports.

Impact Early threw a bullpen session Friday, a continuance of his throwing program as he progresses in his recovery from left elbow inflammation and forearm tightness. He'll embark on a rehab assignment in early September, so there's still a chance that the 24-year-old southpaw will pitch in the majors before the end of the 2026 season.

AUGUST 28 • ROTOWIRE

Resumes mound work Early (elbow) threw a 25-pitch bullpen session Saturday, Danielle Allentuck of The Washington Post reports.

Impact Early encountered a setback in early August when he experienced minor left forearm tightness during a live batting practice session. The left-hander has now resumed mound work as he looks to join the Nationals' rotation sometime in September. Early has not pitched in a game since late June, and he went from the Red Sox to the Nationals in a late-July trade that sent Curtis Mead (wrist) to Boston.

AUGUST 24 • ROTOWIRE

Moves to 60-day IL The Nationals transferred Early (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Saturday.

Impact Early has been on the injured list since the beginning of July with elbow inflammation and isn't expected to return until September after suffering a setback in early August, so his move to the 60-day IL won't affect his return timeline. He'll give up his spot on the 40-man roster to Matt Waldron, who was claimed off waivers from Toronto on Saturday.

AUGUST 22 • ROTOWIRE

Not being sent for imaging Early (elbow) will not be sent for an MRI after he felt some minor forearm tightness during a live batting practice session Tuesday, Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic reports.

Impact Manager Blake Butera indicated the organization wasn't overly concerned about Early's health, but the setback might have been the only excuse the Nationals needed to rule the southpaw out from pitching in the majors again this season. Acquired in the Curtis Mead (wrist) deal, Early had a 3.44 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 93:34 K:BB through 91.2 innings for the Red Sox earlier this year. He last saw game action June 30 before landing on the IL with elbow inflammation.

AUGUST 7 • ROTOWIRE

Throwing program paused The Nationals paused Early's (elbow) throwing program Thursday after he felt forearm tightness during his latest live BP session, Danielle Allentuck of The Washington Post reports.

Impact Early has been sidelined by elbow inflammation since the beginning of July. He was aiming to return from the IL to make his Nationals debut sometime in late August, but his latest setback is likely to extend his time on the shelf. Manager Blake Butera said the team is going to be "ultra cautious" with Early going forward and give him some time off to rest before reevaluating him and determining next steps.

AUGUST 6 • ROTOWIRE

Red Sox must address underlying trade deadline issue with Payton Tolle and Jake Bennett Craig Breslow shocked Red Sox Nation late Saturday night when he traded away rookie left-handed pitcher Connelly Early to the Washington Nat...

JULY 31 • BOSOXINJECTION.COM

Impact After acquiring Early from the Red Sox over the weekend, the Nationals seem to be preparing for a slow buildup for the left-hander as he works his way back from elbow inflammation. He's slated to throw a two-inning simulated bullpen session within the next day or two before likely throwing a simulated game Monday in Washington, D.C. or on the road in Philadelphia. After that, Early is expected to report to an affiliate to begin a rehab assignment, and he looks like he'll need around three starts in the minors before making his Nationals debut by the end of August.

JULY 29 • ROTOWIRE

Paul Toboni's Comments About Connelly Early Should Excite Nationals Fans Connelly Early wasted little time getting to work with the Washington Nationals. After he was acquired in a late-night trade that took place...

JULY 28 • SI.COM

Should Red Sox Regret Turning Down Diamondbacks Connelly Early Trade? As we know, the Boston Red Sox wound up trading Connelly Early to the Washington Nationals on Saturday. And although a player can be traded...

JULY 28 • SI.COM

Aiming for Aug. 3 rehab start President of baseball operations Paul Toboni said Sunday that the Nationals are targeting Aug. 3 for the start of Early's (elbow) rehab assignment, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.co...

Impact Early hasn't pitched since June 30 due to left elbow inflammation, but the Nationals didn't view the injury as enough of a concern to deter them from acquiring the 24-year-old pitcher from the Red Sox on Saturday in exchange for infielder Curtis Mead. The southpaw completed a one-inning simulated bullpen session Friday and is expected to throw a more extended session during the upcoming week before he heads out on a rehab assignment. Early could be ready to return from the 15-day injured list to make his Nationals debut at some point during the second week of August.

JULY 27 • ROTOWIRE

It's not AI! Tolle nearly duped in immediate reaction to Mead-Early trade BOSTON -- Artificial intelligence almost got the best of Payton Tolle, until the Red Sox lefty realized that this news carried nothing but t...

JULY 26 • MLB.COM

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Mets beat Nationals 7-1 behind 2 homers from Mauricio and 3-run drive by Ewing