The future of the Boston Red Sox's pitching situation is in great hands after Connelly Early's record-tying performance in Tuesday's 6-0 win over the Athletics. The 23-year-old southpaw was electric in his first game as a Red Sox, as he pitched five scoreless innings while finishing with 11 strikeouts, tying the record for an MLB debut that former All-Star arm Don Aase set in 1977.
The Athletics are far from a World Series contender, but that doesn't take the shine off Early's incredible performance. While it wouldn't have been unusual for the Red Sox lefty to credit himself for the stellar outing or someone close to him (Family, friends, etc.), the first-year hurler opted to turn the spotlight towards a specific Boston teammate.
"The biggest is probably that (Carlos Narvaez) was locked in today, like he is every single day," Early told reporters, according to NESN. "All the notes that I had written down about the hitters, he was spot on with... For him not catching me and already being completely locked in with what my pitches were, when to use them, and how I like to use them is huge.
Connelly Early Was Impressed by Carlos Narvaez in Red Sox Debut
Red Sox fans have been singing Narvez's praises throughout the 2025 season, and now Early has joined the choir. The rookie catcher played a big role in the Midlothian, VA native's dazzling night, as he threw 61 strikes on 90 pitches (67.8%), allowing only five hits with one walk along the way.
Tuesday was just another example of the impact Narvaez has behind home plate. He currently ranks 13th among all MLB catchers with a 14.6 defensive rating while ranking 11th with a wRC+ of 102, according to FanGraphs. His bat has also been an effective contributor in manager Alex Cora's lineup, as he's slashing .252/.320/.429 with 13 home runs, 44 RBIs, and 36 walks across 361 at-bats.
The fact that Early had an immediate connection with Narvaez is telling for the Red Sox duo's future. They're only 23 and 36 years old, respectively, meaning they might only be getting started. Continuing to foster that connection could see them becoming one of the American League's top pitcher-catcher tandems for years to come.
Interestingly enough, history could repeat itself in Early's next start. His next appearance is projected to take place against the A's at Fenway Park next week, and Red Sox fans would love nothing more than to see another double-digit strikeout performance in person.