Connelly Early and David Sandlin were promoted to Triple-A Worcester Tuesday. The two pitching prospects are now one call away from the big leagues.
WORCESTER — A fresh crop of arms has arrived in Worcester.
On Tuesday, pitchers Connelly Early and David Sandlin were promoted to Triple-A Worcester from Double-A Portland.
Early and Sandlin found out about their joint call up on the road in Richmond, Virginia, Sunday following a rain out with the Richmond Flying Squirrels. Portland manager Chad Epperson called the two pitchers into his office and told them they’d been traded in a package deal.
“He had me for a second. Not gonna lie,” said Early prior to the WooSox‘ 7-5 win Tuesday at Polar Park. “And me and (Sandlin) kind of both looked at each other and were like, ‘What is he talking about?’”
“He was basically just messing with us,” Sandlin told the T&G.
The quippy Epperson then dropped the final line of: “To Worcester.”
“Once he said Worcester, we both just started giggling and everything,” Early said. “Yeah, it was a good time.”
And so far this season, both Early and Sandlin have had a good time on the hill.
A left-handed pitcher taken by Boston in the fifth round of the 2023 MLB Draft, Early has risen quickly up the ranks with the Red Sox.
After starting in 16 games for Class-A Salem (2023-24) and being called up to Double-A Portland at the end of last season for eight starts, Early added strength and weight to his 6-foot-3, 195-pound frame in the offseason.
The 23-year-old also added velocity to his fastball — that hit 97 mph in spring training but sits in the mid-to-low 90s — to pair with a quality changeup and evolving sweeper. In 15 games (12 starts) with the Sea Dogs this year, Early went 7-2 with a 2.51 ERA and 96 strikeouts across 71 2/3 innings.
He is currently listed as the Red Sox’ No. 6 prospect, according to MLB.com.
“I go out there every single time just trying to be as electric as possible,” Early said.
A right-handed pitcher acquired by Boston in a trade with the Kansas City Royals last year, Sandlin turned a corner the last two months with Portland.
The 24-year-old righty, with a penchant for watching anything “Star Wars” related before he pitches and can hit 99 miles per hour on the radar gun, possessed a 5-4 record in 17 games (13 starts) with a 3.61 ERA and 86 strikeouts across 82⅓ innings for the Sea Dogs.
Sandlin is currently listed as the Red Sox’ No. 12 prospect, according to MLB.com.
“This guy brings electric stuff to the mound every single time, and you know he’s going to continue to get better,” Epperson told the T&G in May. “He knows what he’s got to work on, and I know the competitor and the work that he has put in, and he’s going to get right, and when he gets right, he’s going to go on one hell of a role.”
With the WooSox set to embark on a stretch of 12 home games in 13 days, manager Chad Tracy was excited to welcome two new arms to his stable of pitchers.
“I got to meet them today and go through some stuff with them,” Tracy said. “Like they deserve to be here, you know, like they’ve both done an outstanding job down there. The numbers speak for themselves.”
Add Blaze Jordan as another person who’s excited to see Early and Sandlin get called up to Worcester. The WooSox starting third baseman Tuesday night started the year by playing with both pitchers in Portland.
“I love watching them pitch,” Jordan said. “They both got electric stuff and it’s a pleasure playing the field behind them and everything. So, I’m excited to have them here and everything ... and I think they’re going to help the ballclub a lot.”
Caught up with David Sandlin after the WooSox’ win at Polar Park.
— Tommy Cassell (@tommycassell44) July 30, 2025
The 24-year-old righty, who is one of the Red Sox’ top pitching prospects, was promoted to Triple-A Worcester on Tuesday.
Here is Sandlin’s thoughts on a whirlwind 48 hours (and month) along with his KYF mantra. pic.twitter.com/0f3r77JItY
A little less than a year after Connelly Early and David Sandlin were called up to Double-A Portland from High-A Salem together, the pair of pitchers were once again promoted as a package deal.
They hope this trend continues in the future, with the Boston Red Sox.
“That would be really, really cool and awesome to share that moment with him,” Sandlin said.
“It’s crazy to think about for sure, at this point, being in Portland you get two steps away and you get the call and you’re like ‘Holy cow, it’s one step away,’” Early said. “So, I’m just trying to prepare myself for that and doing that here, and in Portland, and hopefully we see that happen pretty soon.”
—Contact Tommy Cassell at [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @tommycassell44.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Connelly Early, David Sandlin promoted to Triple-A Worcester Red Sox
Category: Baseball
