Red Sox Rookie Connelly Early Impresses in Fenway Debut Despite Early Exit

Boston Red Sox rookie left-handed pitcher Connelly Early delivered an impressive performance in his first Fenway Park start against the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday, September 16, 2025. Early, who previously threw five scoreless innings in his MLB debut against Oakland, scattered four hits over 5.1 innings, retiring the side in the second and third frames. Manager Alex Cora pulled Early after 80 pitches (55 strikes) and one out in the sixth inning, citing a challenging matchup against Brent Rooker. Despite Cora calling Early's outing "amazing," the Red Sox ultimately suffered a 2-1 loss after the bullpen struggled to close out the inning.