Red Sox Notes: Connelly Early ties team strikeout record in MLB debut, Kyle Harrison promoted from Triple-A Worcester, Vaughn Grissom moved to 60-day IL

The first step for a young pitcher on a major league mound is rarely quiet, and Red Sox prospect Connelly Early made sure his debut carried a roar. While on the road in Sacramento, the left-hander delivered a debut worthy of the stage and the stakes.

Early, 23, didn’t look like a pitcher making his first appearance in the majors. He looked like someone who had been waiting his entire life for this moment, and if you blinked, you would have missed a masterpiece.

The southpaw delivered one of the best pitching debuts in Red Sox history, striking out 11 A’s batters in five scoreless innings in Boston’s 6-0 win on Tuesday night. He scattered five hits, walked one, and tied Don Aase (1977) for the franchise record for strikeouts in a Major League debut.

“It was amazing, just a bunch of joy,” Early told NESN’s Jahmai Webster following his outing.

The rookie out of Virginia was thrust into the playoff race, making the biggest start of his career, filling in for right-hander Dustin May, who was placed on the injured list with right elbow neuritis.

“As soon as I got here, as everybody else was getting in, you see all these faces, guys who are future Hall of Famers, insanely good players—when you see those guys walking around and see them go about their business and everything, it was like, holy cow,” Early said. “It really hits you then.”

Early attacked the Athletics’ lineup right away, striking out Nick Kurtz, the favorite to win the American League Rookie of the Year, in the first inning. In the second inning, he struck out the side and retired his first eight batters before the A’s recorded a base runner, when Zach Gelof hit a single up the middle.

His biggest test came in the fourth inning, with the bases loaded and one out. Early dialed it up, striking out Darell Hernaiz and Lawrence Butler.

“He never panicked,” Alex Cora said.

When asked what stood out most from Early’s start, Cora said, “The composure, to be honest with you.”

“Getting to know all these kids, man. Like last year, everybody was talking about the position players, and if you look this year, how many pitchers have impacted this team? That’s what makes it special,” Cora continued. “Everybody was talking about the No. 1 farm system because of the three players (Kristian Campbell, Marcelo Mayer, and Roman Anthony) that have contributed this year, but there’s more. And there’s more players down there.”

The 11 strikeouts were more than he had totaled in any game in the minors or college.

“The biggest thing is probably [catcher Carlos Narváez] was locked in today, like he is every single day,” Early said. “All the notes I had written about the hitters, he was spot on with. So for him not catching me and already being completely locked in on what my pitches are and when to use them and how I like to use them is huge.”

Early threw 90 pitches, 61 for strikes, and he also picked up 19 swing-and-misses.

KYLE HARRISON PROMOTED

The Sox are going to promote another pitcher from the minors ahead of the series finale with the Athletics on Wednesday night. Boston will recall left-hander Kyle Harrison, who was acquired from the Giants in the Rafael Devers swap back in June.

Harrison will make his long-awaited debut for the Red Sox and could serve in a long relief/piggyback role behind starter Payton Tolle as the Sox try to go for a three-game sweep. Tolle is expected to make a shortened start on Wednesday, pitching on four days' rest for the first time in his pro career.

Since the trade from the Giants, Harrison has pitched in 50 1/3 innings (12 starts) and has offered a mixed bag of results while with the WooSox. He owns a 3.75 ERA, allowing 21 earned runs on 53 hits (five homers) and recording 50 strikeouts.

There was a chance that Harrison could have been added last week, but he went to Boston to have an MRI on his ankle. Following the MRI, the southpaw made a three-inning start, throwing a single frame, with the idea that he would be promoted this week.

The Red Sox will send Chris Murphy back to Triple-A to make room for Harrison. Initially, it was thought that Early would be optioned back to the minors following the game, but after his dominant performance, he will stick around with the Sox a little longer.

Tolle encountered significant challenges on the mound during his previous start against the Diamondbacks. The 22-year-old labored from the first pitch, throwing 78 pitches in just three innings in the Sox’ 10-5 loss to the D-Backs to open the road trip in Arizona.

The Diamondbacks weren’t fooled by Tolle’s fastball, and his secondary pitches were inconsistent, resulting in the left-hander’s tough second big league start.

Boston is being cautious with Tolle, who has pitched over 97 innings in his first pro season.

“I think the innings are where they should be,” said Cora. “Just, he hasn't pitched in a regular rotation, so we have to take care of him.”

GRISSOM'S SEASON IS OVER

In order for the Red Sox to have added Early to the 40-man roster, Boston moved infielder Vaughn Grissom to the 60-day injured list with plantar fasciitis. His season is now effectively over and potentially his tenure with the Red Sox’ organization.

Grissom has been out of action for the WooSox since Aug. 9, dealing with a foot injury. He has been in a walking boot and is expected to get out of it later this week, according to MassLive’s Chris Cotillo.

With his season over, Grissom, the one-time option to be the Sox’ Opening Day second baseman, will not play for Boston this season. He’ll finish the 2025 campaign having hit .270 with 13 homers, 48 RBI, and a .783 OPS in 96 games for the WooSox.

“I don’t think there was a window for him to get here,” said Cora about Grissom not getting a shot with the Red Sox this season. “I think he played well; he drove the ball to left-center. But the guys who are here have done an amazing job, and that’s the decision we made in spring training. It just didn’t happen.”

Grissom’s first season in the Red Sox’ organization was injury-plagued following the offseason trade with the Braves. Kristian Campbell won the second base job during spring training, and Grissom never sniffed the majors, regularly passed over for a promotion for the likes of David Hamilton, Nick Sogard, and Marcelo Mayer.

Despite his injury, he will be a prime trade candidate in the fall, something he expects to happen this offseason.

“It’s a weird one because I don’t really expect much more opportunity here just because decisions that were made were made, and it kind of didn’t involve me,” Grissom said to MassLive’s Katie Morrison-O’Day. “So there’s not much that I can do. I mean, all those decisions and stuff, they make sense in a way, but I guess it sucks a little bit. But, I mean, it is what it is.”