Nationals To Activate Connelly Early From IL For Team Debut Against Mets
- Washington Nationals left-hander Connelly Early is expected to be reinstated from the 60-day injured list ahead of a Saturday matchup against the New York Mets, according to Mark...
- Early is scheduled to make his team debut by drawing the start and pitching a few innings before handing the ball to bulk reliever Jake Irvin.
- The left-hander has not pitched in the majors since late June.
Washington Nationals left-hander Connelly Early is expected to be reinstated from the 60-day injured list ahead of a Saturday matchup against the New York Mets, according to Mark Zuckerman of Nats Journal.
Early Set for Long-Awaited Nationals Debut
Early is scheduled to make his team debut by drawing the start and pitching a few innings before handing the ball to bulk reliever Jake Irvin.
The left-hander has not pitched in the majors since late June. Left elbow inflammation forced him to the 15-day injured list at the time, and Washington subsequently transferred him to the 60-day injured list in August.
Rehab Rhythms and the Boston Trade
During his most recent rehab outing, Early threw 40 pitches over 1 2/3 innings.
https://x.com/MarkZuckerman/status/2103585564318720218
He finished his minor league rehab assignments with a total of 2.2 innings across two starts. In that span, he allowed six runs, three of them earned, while recording four strikeouts and five walks.
Washington acquired Early from the Boston Red Sox in a late July trade straight up for infielder Curtis Mead. While Early arrived in the nation’s capital while recovering from his elbow injury, Mead’s health misfortune continued with his new organization. Mead was struck by a pitch during his second at-bat with the Red Sox, sustaining a broken wrist that has kept him sidelined since.
Building on 2025 Success
Before his injury cut short his campaign, Early established himself as a reliable arm in Boston’s rotation.
He posted a 3.44 ERA across 17 starts this season.
That performance followed a dazzling four-start introduction to the majors at the end of 2025. During that brief stretch, he earned a spot on Boston’s Opening Day rotation by racking up 29 strikeouts and permitting only five earned runs.
Roster Crunch and 2027 Outlook
Because Washington’s 40-man roster is currently full, the club must make a corresponding roster move prior to activating Early for Saturday’s game.
Looking toward future roster construction, the Nationals secured ace Cade Cavalli on a four-year contract extension last week.
Beyond Cavalli, the 2027 starting rotation features several candidates seeking established roles. Left-hander Andrew Alvarez delivered a strong audition over the final two months of the season, while fellow lefty DJ Herz returned this year following a missed 2025 campaign due to Tommy John surgery.
Additional starting depth in the organization includes Jackson Kent, Brad Lord, Riley Cornelio, Luis Perales, and Will Dion.