The Red Sox are finalizing their roster ahead of Opening Day on Thursday in Cincinnati.
After a strong spring, left-hander Connelly Early has earned a spot on the Opening Day roster, while fellow southpaw Payton Tollehas been optioned to Triple-A Worcester.
Boston will carry both Early and right-hander Johan Oviedo to start the season, providing added depth and the potential for one to serve as a bulk-innings option behind Brayan Bello or Ranger Suárez.
The Red Sox view Early as a starter, making it unlikely he’ll open the season in a relief role.
Boston will begin the year in Cincinnati with Garrett Crochet on the mound Thursday, followed by Sonny Grayon Saturday. The club has not yet officially named a starter for Sunday’s game. Earlier in the week, Oviedo appeared to be the favorite, but it now looks like Early could get the nod.
Alex Coratold reporters that Boston plans to start Suárez next Monday in Houston, with Bello making his season debut the following day.
Early last appeared in the majors during Game 3 of the American League Wild Card Series against the Yankees in October. The left-hander impressed in his first stint with Boston last season, posting a 2.33 ERA with 29 strikeouts and just four walks across his first five appearances (four starts).
He was thrust into a postseason start when Lucas Giolitowent down with a right arm injury, stepping in for Game 3.
ELEVEN strikeouts for Connelly Early in his first career start! That ties a @RedSox franchise record! pic.twitter.com/dIP9ITpb07— MLB (@MLB) September 10, 2025
The 23-year-old carried that momentum into camp, turning in a strong spring with a 1.59 ERA over 17 innings, striking out 16 while allowing 11 hits and issuing five walks.
Boston’s decision to carry Early on the Opening Day roster is somewhat surprising given the service-time implications. If Early were to spend roughly 35 days in the minors this season, the Red Sox would gain an additional year of control. As it stands, the club controls him through the 2031 season.
The Red Sox faced a similar scenario with Tolle, who would need to spend 45 days in the minors to secure an extra year of control.
Still, Cora made it clear in Fort Myers that service time was not a factor in the decision to include Early on the Opening Day roster.
“No, I don’t think about that,” he said. “I just go out there and throw the ball and we’ll see what happens at the end of spring training. But just going out there throwing the ball, trying to compete for your spot.”
Early added strength this offseason, and it’s already showing in his velocity. His fastball has averaged 95.1 mph this spring, up from 94 mph last season, with a perceived velocity of 96 mph.
The added size should help him handle the workload over a full season, whether he sticks with Boston or spends time in Worcester.
“We saw this last year; the only thing now is that he’s stronger,” Cora said. “I challenged him right after the season — him and Tolle. Basically similar to what we did the previous years. They got to become monsters. They got to be big and strong. It’s 162 (game season), 30 starts, if they’re here or whatever they’re at. So the more physical, the better. He did an outstanding job in the offseason, checking all the boxes. It was a good offseason for him and now he’s performing at this level.”
Payton Tolle racks up SEVEN punchouts over three scoreless frames for the @RedSox. MLB's No. 19 prospect reached 100.2 mph with his 70-grade four-seamer in the outing. pic.twitter.com/a1WOqlX1sn— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) March 4, 2026
Tolle will open the season with Triple-A Worcester, where he’s expected to remain in the starting rotation. The Red Sox’ top prospect impressed this spring, posting a 2.53 ERA over 10 2/3 innings with 13 strikeouts and just one walk.
The 6-foot-6, 250-pound lefty rose quickly through the system in 2025, beginning the year at High-A Salem before making brief stops in Portland (six appearances) and Worcester (three starts) ahead of his promotion to Boston last August.
Tolle features elite extension and a fastball that sits in the high-90s, though his secondary pitches remain a work in progress. His four-seamer averaged 96.7 mph last season, generating a 28.3% whiff rate and a 23.3% put-away rate, according to Baseball Savant. He leaned heavily on the pitch, throwing it 64.1% of the time, while mixing in a cutter and slider.
While Tolle has a five-pitch mix, his fastball is already big league-ready. This offseason, he focused on refining his secondary offerings to round out his arsenal.
“It was a process,” Tolle said to MLB.comback in late February. “Changeups, curveballs, adding the sinker in there. Trying to prioritize those and really hammer in having things that are going to protect the fastball. So that's going to be the big thing this year, and trying to execute those along with executing the fastballs where I need to execute them. I'm excited where I'm at with stuff. Obviously, you can keep getting better.”
The 50th overall pick in the 2024 Draft out of TCU will begin the season in Worcester, serving as rotation depth and likely factoring into Boston’s plans at some point this year.
With Early on the 26-man roster and Tolle heading to Triple-A, Oviedo will open the season with Boston. The Red Sox could have optioned him — he still has minor league options — but opted to keep him despite an up-and-down spring. If he struggles, he could be sent down, potentially opening the door for Kutter Crawford or Patrick Sandoval.
Make that 3 straight scoreless outings for Ryan Watson. 4.1 IP, 3 Ks, 1 BB, and 4 hits over that stretch. As we talk about that last spot in the Red Sox bullpen, a strong finish to camp could go a long way for him. Especially if he eat multiple innings. Went 2 scoreless today. pic.twitter.com/tJQHKMhRUP— Tyler Milliken (@tylermilliken_) March 15, 2026
Oviedo is also a candidate to serve as a bulk-innings option behind Suárez or Bello as they continue to build up following the World Baseball Classic.
Other options for that role include Rule 5 pick Ryan Watson, who was informed Monday that he made the Opening Day roster.
Meanwhile, right-handers Zack Kelly and Tommy Kahnlehave been optioned to Triple-A Worcester. Kahnle, who signed a minor league deal this week, pitched last season with the Tigers and appeared for Team Israel in the WBC.
“He’s a guy that has a lot of upside. He’s trending in the right direction,” Cora said of Watson to reporters. “Yesterday he pounded the strike zone for two innings. He’s been doing that lately. He’s a guy that we trust.”
Watson had a rocky start to the spring but began to settle in as Grapefruit League action rolled on. The righty focused on commanding the strike zone.
“I definitely was putting a lot of pressure on myself early,” Watson said. “I got back to my roots a little bit... I turned it around a little bit and started throwing the ball a little better. Really just diving into what makes me good, which is pounding the strike zone, throwing a lot of strikes and using what I have in-zone.”
The Red Sox made additional roster cuts on Monday, sending Nate Eaton and Mickey Gasper to the minors. The club also reassigned catcher Matt Thaiss and left-hander reliever Tyler Samaniego, and Tyler Uberstineto the minors.
The 31-year-old Kelly struggled this spring, allowing four runs on seven hits (including two home runs) and five walks while striking out four over 6 2/3 innings in seven Grapefruit League appearances. He generated just five total swings and misses — three in his first outing and only two across his next five.
The righty was a favorite to make the Opening Day roster at the start of camp but the need for the bulk-innings relievers bumped him from contention. Kelly owns a 4.15 ERA over 98 career major league appearances and posted a 4.58 ERA in 28 outings for Boston last season.
Kahnle is expected to spend about a month in Worcester before his upward mobility clause takes effect on May 1, with a full opt-out available on June 1.
“I saw a good pitcher the other day — 94, 95 (mph) with a good changeup,” Alex Cora said Monday. “Those are big league pitches, and he’s done it before.”
Kahnle owns a 3.61 ERA across 456 career major league appearances and posted a 4.43 ERA in 66 outings with the Tigers last season.
Newly signed left-hander Danny Coulombe will remain in Fort Myers and is expected to pitch in a minor league game on Wednesday. He remains a candidate for the Opening Day roster, though he recently dealt with a minor illness that briefly set him back.
