From the minors to the mound in October: Red Sox rookies Connelly Early and Payton Tolle reveal their whirlwind journey and what they didn't do after their playoff debut.
It's a story that sounds like it belongs in a Hollywood script: two young pitchers, Connelly Early and Payton Tolle, went from the minor league side of JetBlue Park to pitching in a high-stakes playoff series at Yankee Stadium, all within the span of a single year. For them, 2025 was a year of incredible "firsts," including their major league debuts and that unforgettable playoff experience. But here's where it gets interesting: despite this meteoric rise, they never actually set foot in the major league clubhouse at JetBlue Park during their first big league camp.
Manager Alex Cora highlighted the significance of this moment, reminding everyone that it's a fresh start with many new faces. "It's their first big league camp, right? That's very important, and we reminded everybody yesterday that it's a new season and we have a lot of new guys in camp."
Just a year prior, the idea of Early and Tolle making meaningful contributions in October would have been unthinkable. Tolle, in his professional debut, started at High-A and absolutely dominated, climbing through three levels before making his MLB debut on Labor Day weekend. Early, in his second pro season, began in Double-A and pitched so well that he earned a September 9 debut, and then, less than a month later, he was on the mound for Game 3 of the Wild Card Series in the Bronx.
Their playoff moments were impactful. Tolle delivered a crucial out in the eighth inning of a tight Game 2 loss, while Early, in just his fifth major league start, pitched a solid 3 ⅔ innings in Game 3. "We have a taste of it," Tolle shared. "It took a little bit to kick back and relax and be like, 'Woah, this was really cool and this was a good year and I'm proud of what we did.' Three games wasn't enough. We want more."
Early's playoff stat line – four runs (three earned) and six hits – doesn't quite tell the whole story, especially considering the less-than-stellar defense behind him. In the small sample of his outing, the stark contrast between his ERA of 7.36 and his FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) of 0.68 speaks volumes about the underlying performance. The 23-year-old spent his offseason focusing on his golf game and refining his pitch repertoire for the upcoming season, not re-watching his playoff start. "I never re-watched it," Early admitted. "Looking back at it, I feel like I did a decent job executing pitches. Sometimes, baseball just happens. Makes me hungry for this year, of course. Just ready to get back going again."
But here's where it gets controversial... The game Early started was a do-or-die matchup against Yankees rookie Cam Schlittler. While Early held his own, it was Schlittler who stole the show. The Walpole native delivered a masterful performance, consistently throwing fastballs over 100 mph and striking out 12 batters over eight shutout innings. Early could only acknowledge the brilliance: "I had seen him in Double-A. I looked at, and was keeping up with, the Trackman throughout the game. I know he had really good stuff back in Double-A so it was not really too much of a surprise he was able to go out there and pitch really well. Obviously, he kept his composure really well. He rode the New York crowd a good bit, which obviously helps, having a home game in a playoff run. What he did was amazing. It's cool to see another guy around the same spot — obviously, a little more big league time (14 starts) — just go out there and do his thing."
Schlittler and Early are now forever linked by that rookie-on-rookie playoff showdown. However, they haven't had a chance to connect about it. "I haven’t personally spoken to him at all," Early stated. "I usually keep my circle pretty small, just the guys on my team, because those are the guys I’m around all the time."
Schlittler, known for his outspoken nature, certainly made waves after his dominant outing with comments directed at the Red Sox and their fanbase. He suggested Boston fans had "crossed a line" on social media and provocatively tweeted, "Drinking dat dirty water" – a clear jab at the Red Sox's victory anthem. He even advised a Red Sox fan to "start preparing for the Bruins season" after his team's win. While Schlittler later issued a statement expressing his respect for Boston and the organization, the initial remarks certainly stirred the pot.
Red Sox management, including Alex Cora, seemed unfazed. "He went to a Bruins game the other day. He's a Boston fan... We have a saying back home, 'The one that wins celebrates,'" Cora remarked. Payton Tolle added with a chuckle, "You look at where he came from, he did well in that game. It’s one of the things where he wants to keep having that competitive edge, if that’s what he wants to do."
Looking ahead to 2026, Early and Tolle face a tough challenge to make the Opening Day roster, with a rotation already stacked with established pitchers. However, they are expected to contribute at some point during the season, armed with valuable lessons from their first taste of major league spring training. "Ask questions, follow the ones you should follow — Whitlock, Chapman, Gray, Suárez — and they understand that," Cora advised. "Expectations are high because they are who they are and what they did last year, but at the same time, they’re still rookies and they’re still learning."
And this is the part most people miss... While Early and Tolle are focused on their own development and the upcoming season, the lingering question remains: Will there be a moment of mutual respect or even a friendly rivalry born from that intense playoff battle? Or is the competitive fire too strong to allow for such pleasantries? What are your thoughts on Schlittler's comments and the rookie pitchers' reactions? Let us know in the comments below!
