The Washington Nationals acquired left-handed pitcher Connelly Early from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for infielder Curtis Mead on Sunday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations Paul Toboni made the announcement.
Early, 24, went 7-5 with a 3.44 ERA in 17 games (17 starts) for the Boston Red Sox in 2026. He struck out 93 batters, walked 34 and held opponents to a .235 batting average. Early went 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA (3 ER/16.0 IP), 21 strikeouts, five walks and a .182 opponents’ average in three starts from June 20-30 prior to being placed on the 15-day Injured List on July 1 with left elbow inflammation.
Boston’s No. 3 prospect and the No. 52 prospect in all of baseball entering the season, according to Baseball America, Early made his Major League debut on Sept. 9, 2025 against the Athletics. In that start, he struck out 11 batters in 5.0 scoreless innings, becoming just the ninth pitcher in Major League history (since 1900) to fan at least 11 batters in 5.0 scoreless innings in a debut. The 11 strikeouts were tied for the most in a Major League debut in Boston Red Sox history.
Early went 1-2 with a 2.33 ERA, 29 strikeouts, four walks and zero home runs allowed in four starts in his debut season of 2025. He started Game 3 of the American League Wild Card Series against the New York Yankees, becoming the youngest pitcher (23 years, 182 days) to start a Postseason game for the Red Sox since Babe Ruth started Game 2 of the 1916 World Series.
A native of Midlothian, Va., Early was selected in the fifth round of the 2023 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Virginia. In three professional seasons prior to his Major League debut, Early posted a 3.32 ERA with a .205 opponents’ average and 274 strikeouts in 206.0 innings across 45 games (42 starts). Early graduated from James River High School in Midlothian and attended the United States Military Academy West Point for two seasons (2021-22) before transferring to the University of Virginia.