Sea Dogs pitcher sees development without his best command
Jun. 5—Connelly Early has been the ace of the Portland Sea Dogs pitching staff throughout the first two months of the season. Following Thursday's matinee against the Hartford Yard Goats, the 6-foot-3 lefty is 4-0 with a 2.33 ERA and averages more than 13 strikeouts per nine innings.
While Early didn't factor in the decision Thursday (Portland lost 8-6 in 11 innings) and didn't have his best stuff, he sees it as an important part of his development.
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"There's some frustrating things out there, but I feel like there's a lot of unfortunate things that happened. I thought I did a good job just being able to compete in the zone and keep my team in it," said Early, who pitched five innings, allowing two runs and nine hits while striking out three and walking a pair. "Obviously, I'm not super happy with that one, but it's part of the swing of how the season is going to go. It's not going to be perfect every time."
Early left the game with a 3-2 lead. Four of the hits he surrendered didn't leave the infield, coming on slow rollers and a bunt single. Off-speed pitches have been an important piece in Early's arsenal this season, but he struggled with his command Thursday.
"I think he got hurt (because) his off-speed just wasn't getting down enough. It was up in the zone where they were fouling off a lot of pitches," Portland manager Chad Epperson said. "They were just able to stay alive and make him throw some extra pitches. In previous outings, he was able to get it down and they were swinging over the top of it."
The third inning illustrated Early's day. The No. 9 prospect in the Red Sox system according to MLB Pipeline, Early gave up infield singles to Cole Carrigg and Jose Torres, then hit Nic Kent to load the bases with nobody out. Juan Guerrero gave Hartford a 2-1 lead with a sacrifice fly, then Early got a double play grounder to end the inning.
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"It's kind of part of the 'Red Sox Way.' We like to fill the zone with off-speed. I'm just going out there and challenging them with off-speed," Early said. "Kudos to them, they were able to get gritty in some (at-bats) and put some swings on the ball and just put the ball in play."
INFIELDER MIKEY ROMERO was placed on the seven-day injured list Thursday because of what Epperson called minor right elbow irritation.
"We want to get ahead of it. Nothing major. It's just something we're not going to push through so it's going to linger the rest of the year," Epperson said.
Boston's first-round pick in the 2022 draft, Romero has typically been Portland's leadoff hitter. He has a .246 average and .335 on-base percentage, with five home runs, 18 RBI and 26 runs.
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Romero has played shortstop and third base. Red Sox director of player development said Romero could see more time at third after the promotion of Blaze Jordan to Triple-A Worcester.
SPEAKING OF JORDAN, the former Sea Dogs corner infielder earned a final Double-A honor, being named Eastern League Player of the Month for May.
Jordan hit .390 with 32 hits, 24 RBI, six home runs and 10 multi-hit games. That torrid month earned Jordan a promotion to Worcester. Epperson gave Jordan the good news after Sunday's game at Altoona.
"The place went nuts," Epperson said of the team's joyous reaction. "You saw in spring training, he had this look, I'm not going to be forgotten about, guys. I've had him for parts of three seasons, and the growth he's had on both sides of the ball, but especially defense. He's put himself as an above-average first baseman. He was a big-time presence in the middle of our lineup from Day 1. I can't be happier for him."
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Jordan has been open about his struggles with anxiety and depression, in the hopes it can help other people going through the same things. He made an impressive debut in Worcester, going 3 for 8 in his first two games with a home run, two doubles, two RBI and four runs.
THANKS TO THE ghost-runner to start extra innings, a rarity took place in Thursday's game: a 1-2-3 inning with just two batters.
With the score tied 5-5 in the top of the 10th, Hartford's Guerrero started the inning as the runner on second base. He advanced to third on Jose Cordova's flyout to right, then was picked off third by Portland catcher Ronald Rosario. Braiden Ward's groundout ended the inning.
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