Worcester Guardian staff
WORCESTER—A pair of promising young pitchers have arrived at Polar Park ahead of this week’s homestand, giving the Worcester Red Sox a boost in pitching depth and fans a preview of the future.
The WooSox announced the call-ups of left-hander Connelly Early, 23, and right-hander David Sandlin, 24, from Double-A Portland as the team opened a six-game series against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies.
Both project as starting pitchers, though their promotion came with a twist. Portland manager Chad Epperson broke the news during a series in Richmond — with a fake-out. “He had me for a second,” said Early of Epperson in remarks included in a team press release. “Once he said ‘Worcester,’ [Sandlin and I] both started giggling and everything.”
For Early, the location added extra meaning. The Richmond native was able to share the news with his family in person. “[I] got to tell them after the game and just being in their company was a blessing,” he said.
Early made a strong case for promotion, posting a 7-2 record with a 2.51 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP in 15 games for Portland. Sandlin, who was acquired by Boston in the February trade that sent reliever John Schreiber to the Kansas City Royals, posted a 3.61 ERA and 1.18 WHIP across 17 games.
WooSox manager Chad Tracy welcomed the additions to the staff. “They deserve to be here,” Tracy said in the press release. “I think for the most part [they are] two really good young arms that deserve to be here and have performed very well throughout their time [in Portland], and it’s cool to see them get rewarded.”
While acknowledging the higher level of competition in Triple-A, Tracy is confident in the duo’s talent. “You both have great stuff, and here, you get in the zone and let it play,” he said of his early message to the pitchers.
Early, ranked as the No. 6 prospect in the Red Sox organization by MLB Pipeline, understands what’s at stake. “At this point, you know, being in Portland, you’ve got two steps away and then you get the call [to Worcester] and it’s like ‘holy cow it’s one step away,’” he said. “Hopefully, we see that happen pretty soon.”
Sandlin is currently ranked No. 12 among Boston prospects. Though primarily a starter, he’s also made recent appearances out of the bullpen, and Tracy said his role in the Worcester rotation remains to be seen. Early, however, is listed as the probable starter for Saturday’s game at Polar Park.
The two pitchers are already making their presence felt with fans. After Worcester’s July 30 game, they took part in a meet-the-team autograph event in the DCU Club at Polar Park.
Have news, tips, or a story worth telling? Reach Editor Charlene Arsenault at carsenault@theworcesterguardian.org—because good stories (and great scoops) deserve to be shared.
