Pedro Martinez's credentials on pitching speak for themselves. He's on the shortlist of the best pitchers ever. The guy knows a thing or two about throwing.
So, when he has something to say about a young pitcher's game, it's best to listen. And listen you should, because his latest praise for Connelly Early is more than just effusive:
"This kid [Early] has no ceiling right now. I think this kid is one of the smartest [pitchers] I've ever seen," Martinez said during a pre-game segment. "Believe me, he was starting to pick my mind about some of the things that he needed to do."
Good luck living up to that standard, Connelly.
"This kid has no ceiling right now."@45PedroMartinez with some high praise for Connelly Early 👏 pic.twitter.com/8DODDXpaNX
— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) April 21, 2026
Pedro Martinez praises the intelligence of Connelly Early, highlighting a carrying trait for the Red Sox to hang their hat on
Red Sox fans will be quick to point out that Martinez, as infallible as he was on the mound, hasn't had the same track record as an analyst. He said similar things about Brayan Bello during his his rookie season, and that praise has yet to manifest four years later.
Still, it's not like Bello has been a complete bust. And Martinez's praise for Bello was rooted in their similar games in statures; his compliments regarding Early were more centered around the southpaw's cerebral maturity.
Less than 50 innings into his MLB career, it's hard to disagree with Martinez's assessment of Early. The 24-year-old rookie has arguably been the team's best starting pitcher in 2026, firing off a 2.88 ERA over his first five starts. He's had bouts of inconsistency with his command, hence a 4.19 FIP, but he remains effortlessly skilled at pitching out of trouble and keeping opposing teams off the board.
Doubters will point to some substandard contact data, which does portend a messier future if Early keeps giving up barreled balls. But that was never a real issue for him in the minor leagues, and it's far too early to suggest that he can't adjust to the higher skill level of MLB hitters.
In fact, he may be particularly good at adjusting his game, if Martinez is to be believed. He's walked multiple batters in every start this season and has started giving up some long balls in his most recent outings; in turn, he's started to tinker with his pitch mix, leaning far more on his sinker against the Twins and Yankees. That's spiked his groundball rate back to above-average levels, which is a good counter to all the hard contact he's allowed.
Over the course of this season, we'll continue to see changes and tweaks from Early. It's how he succeeds. Already having proven capable of handling some high-leverage moments, the Red Sox should be very excited for what's to come in the next stage of his evolution on the mound.
Add us as a preferred source on Google