Red Sox select Connelly Early with fifth-round pick

With the 151st overall pick in the 2023 MLB First-Year Player Draft, Boston has selected Connelly Early, a left-handed pitcher out of the University of Virginia. A teammate of Kyle Teel, Boston's first-round pick, Early was not ranked by Baseball America, Perfect Game USA, ESPN.com, or MLB.com. ProspectsLive did rank him as the 305th-best prospect in the draft. 

Early spent his first two years at Army, where the team won back-to-back Patriot League titles. He posted a 2.23 ERA in 36 1/3 innings as a freshman and a 3.26 ERA in 85 2/3 innings as a sophomore. He then transferred to Virginia, where he kept things rolling with a 3.09 ERA in 87 1/3 innings. As a Cavalier, he struck out 100 batters while walking 23. He finished the season strong, being named the Most Outstanding Player of the Charlottesville Regional. He picked up the win in the deciding game while racking up 10 strikeouts. 

While his numbers have been great in college, the scouting report focuses more on pitchability than pure stuff with Early. Listed at 6-foot-3, the 21-year-old reportedly has a low 90s fastball while flashing a sweeping slider, a curveball, and a changeup. The MLB.com broadcast thought his changeup may eventually become his best weapon, but his secondary pitches are currently inconsistent. 

The slot value for pick 151 is $408,500, and the Red Sox are projected to pick up some savings there.