This young Red Sox pitcher will take a leap and earn a rotation spot for 2026

There's been a lot written and said about the Boston Red Sox's need for a frontline starting pitcher this winter.

A rotation of Garrett Crochet, Brayan Bello, and a host of unknowns can probably get the job done on paper, but it'd certainly help the cause for the front office to bring in a legitimate co-ace to support Crochet's lonesome heroics atop the rotation.

However, those "unknowns" aren't merely replacement-level options. Sure, Kutter Crawford may never be more than an innings-eater when healthy, and Patrick Sandoval, Hunter Dobbins, Tanner Houck and Ricard Fitts are all trying to climb out of the injury abyss.

But that still leaves a host of intriguing, high-upside arms who can give the Red Sox another upper-echelon starter if their development breaks the right way. Trade acquisition Kyle Harrison, top prospect Payton Tolle, and Arizona Fall League participant Luis Perales are all young pitchers with exciting stuff at or near the major league level. All of them are capable of breaking out in 2026 and emerging as mainstays in the rotation.

If you were to place bets on which youthful arm is most likely to give the Red Sox what they need most, though, the obvious answer has to be Connelly Early.

Connelly Early set to emerge as latest Red Sox pitching development win in 2026

To some, Early emerged, well, early in 2025. His MLB debut was electric, and over his first four major league starts (all of which came during a run for a playoff bid), the rookie southpaw did not disappoint. He recorded a 2.33 ERA, 0.91FIP (!!!), 1.1 fWAR, and equally-impressive strikeout (36.7%) and walk rates (5.1%).

His (and the Red Sox's) season came to an end in the Wild Card round against the New York Yankees, though prior to a four-run fourth frame, Early completely stifled the Bronx Bombers, shutting them down through three frames.

His prospect track record is tantalizing, as he worked a 30.8% strikeout rate in the minor leagues during his first full professional season in 2024. He followed that up with a 2.60 ERA and 31.9% strikeout rate this past season.

Considering he was drafted in the fifth round just two years ago, it's safe to say Early is ahead of schedule. And yet, with a repertoire that goes six pitches deep and yielded utterly elite chase (36.7%) and whiff rates (33.9%) in his brief cup of coffee in September, there's no doubting his readiness for The Show.

Truthfully, the Red Sox may have tipped their hand when they chose Early to start Game 3 of that playoff series against the Yankees. There is an obvious belief that he is due for greatness — perhaps that greatness will be on full display in 2026.