Despite a strong spring showing, the Boston Red Sox elected to carry Connelly Early on their roster over their top prospect.

“We can mix and match with Mona,” Cora said on NESN during an in-game interview that was interrupted by a Ceddanne Rafaela homer. “We’re gonna use Izzy, most likely, against lefties at second base. Mona can do the same thing. He can pinch run.”

Alex Cora delivers blunt message to Kristian Campbell, urging improvement as struggles continue and expectations rise within Red Sox camp.

The Boston Red Sox enter 2026 with a fortified starting rotation after returning to the playoffs in 2025 and open the season against another 2025 postseason entrant, the Cincinnati Reds, at Great American Ball Park on Thursday for a late-afternoon start.

FORT MYERS, Fla. — As the Red Sox gathered for the final day of spring training Tuesday, manager Alex Cora detailed how pitchers Connelly Early and Johan Oviedo would be deployed early in the season — and stressed that it’s a temporary solution.