The Red Sox are finalizing their roster ahead of Opening Day on Thursday in Cincinnati.
After a strong spring, left-hander Connelly Early has earned a spot on the Opening Day roster, while fellow southpaw Payton Tolle has been optioned to Triple-A Worcester.
Boston will carry both Early and right-hander Johan Oviedo to start the season, providing added depth and the potential for one to serve as a bulk-innings option behind Brayan Bello or Ranger Suárez.
The Red Sox view Early as a starter, making it unlikely he’ll open the season in a relief role.
Boston will begin the year in Cincinnati with Garrett Crochet on the mound Thursday, followed by Sonny Gray on Saturday. The club has not yet officially named a starter for Sunday’s game. Earlier in the week, Oviedo appeared to be the favorite, but it now looks like Early could get the nod.
Alex Cora told reporters that Boston plans to start Suárez next Monday in Houston, with Bello making his season debut the following day.
Early last appeared in the majors during Game 3 of the American League Wild Card Series against the Yankees in October. The left-hander impressed in his first stint with Boston last season, posting a 2.33 ERA with 29 strikeouts and just four walks across his first five appearances (four starts).
He was thrust into a postseason start when Lucas Giolito went down with a right arm injury, stepping in for Game 3.
The 23-year-old carried that momentum into camp, turning in a strong spring with a 1.59 ERA over 17 innings, striking out 16 while allowing 11 hits and issuing five walks.
Boston’s decision to carry Early on the Opening Day roster is somewhat surprising given the service-time implications. If Early were to spend roughly 35 days in the minors this season, the Red Sox would gain an additional year of control. As it stands, the club controls him through the 2031 season.
The Red Sox faced a similar scenario with Tolle, who would need to spend 45 days in the minors to secure an extra year of control.
Still, Cora made it clear in Fort Myers that service time was not a factor in the decision to include Early on the Opening Day roster.
“No, I don’t think about that,” he said. “I just go out there and throw the ball and we’ll see what happens at the end of spring training. But just going out there throwing the ball, trying to compete for your spot.”
Early added strength this offseason, and it’s already showing in his velocity. His fastball has averaged 95.1 mph this spring, up from 94 mph last season, with a perceived velocity of 96 mph.
The added size should help him handle the workload over a full season, whether he sticks with Boston or spends time in Worcester.
“We saw this last year; the only thing now is that he’s stronger,” Cora said. “I challenged him right after the season — him and Tolle. Basically similar to what we did the previous years. They got to become monsters. They got to be big and strong. It’s 162 (game season), 30 starts, if they’re here or whatever they’re at. So the more physical, the better. He did an outstanding job in the offseason, checking all the boxes. It was a good offseason for him and now he’s performing at this level.”
Payton Tolle racks up SEVEN punchouts over three scoreless frames for the @RedSox.
MLB’s No. 19 prospect reached 100.2 mph with his 70-grade four-seamer in the outing. pic.twitter.com/a1WOqlX1sn
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) March 4, 2026
Tolle will open the season with Triple-A Worcester, where he’s expected to
