- 18 hours ago
New Nats LHP Connelly Early joined Grant & Tobi after throwing his first bullpen at Nats Park! Get Early's reaction to the trade, an update on his rehab status, and a lot of 'get to know you' in his first interview with 106.7 The Fan!
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00:00Swing and a high pop and a shallow left field.
00:03Duran comes on.
00:04He is there to make the play.
00:06And the inning is over.
00:08Early.
00:09Awesome.
00:10Through five.
00:12Eleven strikeouts in his major league debut.
00:15That will do it for the kid.
00:16And what a first one in a Red Sox uniform.
00:21Grant and Danny on the fan.
00:24Danny's on vacay.
00:25Toby is in today.
00:26Show's brought to you by the law firm Kondori and Murad.
00:28Yeah, we're exclusively sponsored by the law firm of Kondori and Murad.
00:32Estate planning, elder law, real estate transactions, probate administration.
00:35Their attorneys are always there to protect you and your family's assets.
00:38Schedule a free consultation with their team today by visiting kmlawyers.com.
00:41And be sure to let them know that we sent you.
00:43That's kmlawyers.com.
00:45That call from Will Fleming on Red Sox radio was one of the many prolific innings
00:51Connelly Early had on the mound for Boston before being traded to the Nationals this weekend.
00:56And now the newest member of their organization, Connelly Early joins us on the Rude Guest Hotline.
01:01Rude, the most reliable heating and air conditioning products in the DMV.
01:05Connelly, thanks so much for the time and really excited to have you here in D.C.
01:09I never know whether to say congratulations after a trade or what exactly to say,
01:13but we are pumped to have you in the district.
01:15I'll say that.
01:17I'm pumped to be here as well.
01:18So, you're back home, in a sense, a Virginia guy from the Midlothian area.
01:23So, just give us an idea of your background.
01:25Were you born and raised in Virginia all along before going to UVA?
01:29Yes, born and raised in Virginia.
01:32So, pretty much 30 minutes outside of Richmond and went to James River High School.
01:40Grew up there my whole life.
01:41Did you grow up coming up to Nats games at all, or what was your affiliation with the Nationals before
01:46getting traded here?
01:49Yes, I came to plenty of National games before.
01:53Obviously, with the drive only being about two hours, I spent a bunch of time with my parents and brothers
01:57coming up to Nationals games, spending time in D.C.
02:00I know that Connelly Early, our guest, is one of four brothers, and, of course, your parents are both military
02:06involved.
02:06You started your collegiate career, actually, at West Point in New York before transferring to UVA, where you finished in
02:13Charlottesville.
02:14At what point did you start to think you had a real legitimate chance to turn into a viable baseball
02:20prospect and get drafted?
02:21You ended up going in the fifth round and pretty quickly turning yourself into a really good player in Boston's
02:26system.
02:26But when did those dreams start to feel real that you could play pro ball?
02:33Yeah, so after my sophomore year at West Point, I put together a decent season, and there was a lot
02:40of coaching changes coming.
02:42I didn't really know if I wanted to take a shot at pro ball or not.
02:47I didn't know if I had a shot, and I talked to my pitching coach, Coach Kenny, there at the
02:51time.
02:52And he said, you know, look into the options, you know, if you find a spot that fits you somewhere
02:59outside of West Point, I consider it if you want to go play pro ball.
03:04Talked to my family about it, kind of took some visits to figure out where I wanted to go and
03:09if this was the right decision for me.
03:12And once I made that decision, I dedicated a lot more time into baseball and really wanted to, you know,
03:19take a shot at being able to play pro ball.
03:21Yeah, I mean, Connell, even though I'm a Hokie, I think I can support a guy from UVA coming over
03:25here pitching for the Nationals.
03:27But what was it like the last couple of days and then finding out you're coming to the Nationals to
03:32reunite with Paul Tiboni?
03:34Yeah, definitely, definitely a little bit shocking.
03:37I wasn't expecting it at all.
03:40Was getting ready for bed to get ready for, you know, getting into the field early and getting my rehab
03:47stuff in.
03:48And got a call from Craig Breslow, and he just told me, you know, sometimes part of the business, hate
03:55to lose you, but I made a deal with the Nationals.
03:59And Tiboni will be calling you here soon, and got a call from him, was able to talk to him,
04:04obviously had him when I first was drafted in Fort Myers, got to meet him, had him come to a
04:11couple of my starts, a couple of my weeks that I was in the minors, and then also had him
04:15at my debut in Sacramento last year.
04:18Connelly Early, newest member of the Nats organization, with us on Grant and Danny.
04:23So when Breslow calls you, when you look down, and you have his number, I'm sure, saved in your phone,
04:28it shows up as Craig Breslow.
04:29Do you think, like, does your heart drop and you think, I just got traded?
04:33It's late at night?
04:34Or what are you actually thinking before you answer?
04:38At the time, I was thinking that it had to do something with something along rehab or how I was
04:46feeling or, you know, something to do with that, maybe, you know, planning for the upcoming days or just checking
04:55in on me.
04:55So, wasn't really thinking about, you know, a possibility of a trade, but that's what it ended up being.
05:02So, sometimes phone calls are going in a completely different direction of what you were thinking.
05:09Yeah, no kidding.
05:09So then I'm sure within a few minutes, you do hear from Paul Taboney, who you've got a relationship with,
05:14as you mentioned, was involved in drafting you, developing you in Boston, and obviously handpicks you here to come back
05:20to D.C.
05:21Thanks very highly of you.
05:22What was that conversation like?
05:24Like, I'm sure it was a very different tone where his excitement had to be palpable through the cell phone.
05:30Yeah, definitely excited to talk to him again.
05:33I remember, you know, when he got the job over here, I texted him just saying congratulations because he'd been,
05:42you know, so good with me and really been personable throughout my whole entire time that I had him at
05:48with the Red Sox.
05:50So, got that call from him, started laughing a little bit, and, you know, it was cool to hear his
05:55voice again.
05:56And he was super pumped, you know, to have me, to be able to get me.
06:01And I was super excited to kind of start things over and be able to meet a whole new clubhouse
06:08and just start building relationships again.
06:11Yeah, what are you excited to join with this Nationals Ball Club?
06:13I'm not sure how much you're following what they're doing from afar, obviously, throughout the season.
06:17But, you know, this is a ball club that's fighting for a wild card spot similar to what you guys
06:21were doing in Boston.
06:22What are you excited to bring to this team when you get on the mound at Nationals Park?
06:27Yeah, so, I mean, we just played the Nationals not too long ago.
06:32And, you know, that was the really only team that the Red Sox had some trouble with from the pitching
06:39side of things.
06:40So, I saw the Nationals put up a bunch of runs against us, and obviously, being on the other side,
06:46it was a hard time.
06:47But now knowing that they're behind me, it's pretty cool to think about and just trying to get as healthy
06:54as possible so I can get out there and compete for each one of those guys.
06:57Yeah, it's not often we get to talk to people that pitched against the Nationals.
07:00I'm curious, this lineup has been one of the best in baseball, scored the most runs in Major League Baseball
07:05to this point.
07:05What is it like going up against this lineup and now being on the side of them?
07:11Yeah, I did, you know, deep, deep dive, report on the lineup that I was facing, and they're a scrappy
07:19team.
07:20They take their A-Bs, they have slugging, they have contact, they have everything.
07:25They got speed in there, they try and take bags, and I just hit the ball really well.
07:30So, obviously, I didn't know what they were doing, but something's obviously clicking.
07:37Now I'm interested to kind of learn what they're doing from that side of things as well as we continue
07:43this thing and build the relationships.
07:45But, yeah, not a super fun team to face.
07:48I know that you have to be at your best every time and just execute pitches really well.
07:52Well, Nats leading the league in runs scored and have a chance to be the first team in over 50
07:56years to lead the Majors in homers and steals.
07:58They're atop both categories right now.
08:01But they've needed pitching.
08:02That's been where they're desperate.
08:03They don't have enough of it.
08:04And Connelly Early's here to help start to fix that dilemma, a member of their rotation as soon as he's
08:09healthy, which I want to get into here.
08:11So your last outing was actually against the Nats.
08:13And I remember watching the game and for all the talk about how good the lineup was and the fits
08:17they gave you, you didn't give up any earned runs and just three hits in that game, four shotty, five
08:22strikeouts.
08:23But you left that start.
08:24I think that was actually the night that the benches cleared with Cavalli and Contreras.
08:27And you left that game after four innings with what was called inflammation.
08:31So can you just take us through, like, what happened in terms of the pain or what you were feeling
08:36that night and since and how you're feeling now?
08:39Yeah, I just kind of felt some discomfort coming off the mound on the last pitch that I threw.
08:47Wasn't crazy concerned about it, but wanted to inform my trainers about it because it was a feeling that I
08:52hadn't felt before.
08:54Obviously, when we're talking about the elbow with the pitcher, things can get pretty scary.
08:59So just wanted to inform the trainer, you know, did all the strength tests and everything to make sure it
09:05was in a good spot.
09:06And all that stuff came back pretty clean.
09:10But just going into extension a little bit in the backside of the elbow, there was a little inflammation back
09:16there.
09:17So kind of, you know, told me, hey, let's give it a break and we'll see, you know, the next
09:23steps from here and get you back on track.
09:26So I feel really good right now.
09:29How long did you go before you threw again?
09:32And obviously you're throwing now.
09:33I think you even threw maybe today over at Nats Park from what I heard.
09:37It sounded like Paul said in the dugout yesterday you have an August 3rd rehab start set up.
09:43So are you in line kind of still to be back in the next few weeks it feels like?
09:48Yeah, we're still shooting for the goal to be August 3rd for the first rehab outing.
09:54I feel really good so far.
09:56I've been able to touch the mound twice since throwing again and everything's felt really good.
10:01Obviously not trying to push it too, too fast, but also still trying to make sure that I'm getting the
10:07workload in and making sure that I'm taking care of the arm as much as possible.
10:11Trying to build a little extra shoulder strength in there as well just to, you know, take off as much
10:16stress as I can from the elbow and keep building day by day.
10:19Talking with new Nats pitcher, Connelly Early, was acquired late Saturday evening for Curtis Mead in a trade with the
10:25Red Sox.
10:26So one thing that's always fun to watch with young starting pitchers is their composure on the mound, and I
10:32think that's something that stands out whenever we watch you start.
10:35How much of that do you attribute to your background and spending a couple of years at West Point and
10:39having family that has military ties?
10:42Do you think that helps you with some of your composure on the Hill?
10:46Yeah, I think that that's just who makes me me.
10:50Obviously growing up with three brothers, there's a lot of competition in the household every single day, whether that's baseball
10:58or any sports or, you know, whatever it is, just day-to-day activities.
11:03We were always competing against each other, so you learn how to deal with some stuff that makes you frustrated
11:10here and there, and also my parents did a great job, you know, being tough on me, but also loving
11:17me.
11:17So they've been with me every step of the way, sometimes tough love in there, which is always good, and
11:24was able to go to West Point, had a hard coach over there who taught me how to play the
11:30game the right way,
11:31and put me in a really good spot, and thought that the military aspect of everything and just the discipline
11:38of everything and dealing with the school, the military, and the baseball all really helped me just be in a
11:44really good spot, going into UVA, and then obviously coming into pro ball.
11:49Connelly, looking at some of the pitch data for this season on you, about over half the time, 55%
11:54of the time you throw fastball between the four and the two-seamer, 18% of the time change-up,
11:59about 11% of the time curveball.
12:01And then the slider and the sweeper as well. Based on this season's numbers, it seems like you're having the
12:07most success with the fastball, and also that the league has struggled to hit the slider and the sweeper.
12:12Do you think those numbers, which sometimes can be misleading, do you think they bear out kind of what your
12:16best pitches have been and haven't been, and just give us a feel for things you've been tinkering with and
12:21tweaking in terms of the pitch mix this year?
12:26Yeah, I mean, I think that there's always room for improvement. I'm chasing a better version of myself every single
12:34day, and when I'm at my best, I'm using all my pitches and all different counts.
12:39So not leaning on one pitch too much over the other, and I think that early on in the season,
12:46I was leaning on the fastball a little bit more just because it's what I feel pretty comfortable with.
12:54So I've been talking to all the coaches here, and they're trying to get a handle on me.
12:58I'm trying to kind of figure out how to work with them the best we possibly can, and hopefully we
13:05can make some good strides in just getting everything dialed in before I'm back out on the mound.
13:09I know you've made over 20 starts now in a very successful beginning of your major league career in over
13:15100 innings, but because you're with Boston, and there's a lot of fans, I'm sure, in New York, in D
13:20.C. rather, that don't check out the Northeast or teams in another league, what have you.
13:24Is there a good comp, like when you were a prospect coming up or a guy that you think either
13:29pitch mix or stylistically over the last several years that kind of resembles the way you go about your business
13:34from the left side?
13:38I always want to be Connolly early, so I'm not really trying to pitch like anybody else, just trying to
13:46be me out there on the mound and have a good time.
13:49But I've heard people say Cole Hamels, I've heard people say Clinton Kershaw.
13:54Those guys are insanely good, so hopefully one day I can put myself in the same category as them.
14:00You mentioned being the best version of yourself and trying to be just Connolly early instead of trying to be
14:04anybody else.
14:05In your mind, assuming as you continue to develop and get better, what does that look like when you feel
14:12like you can get to your furthest point?
14:13What does the best version of Connolly early look like?
14:18Only time will tell that one.
14:20Not too sure.
14:22I don't know if we'll see the best version in 10 days.
14:26Who knows when we'll see the best version.
14:27So hopefully we're building to the best version for plenty of years to come.
14:32Connolly early now with the Nats acquired in a trade on Saturday.
14:36All right, before we let you go, whenever we have a player in town on the show for the first
14:40time, we try to get to know him with some fun non-sports questions.
14:43Rapid fire here.
14:44So we're going to go through these real quick with you, if you don't mind, and we'll just go lightning
14:49round style.
14:50You ready?
14:51All righty.
14:52What would you be doing if you were not playing baseball?
14:55In the military.
14:58What's the last show that you binged or your favorite TV show to re-binge?
15:06Maybe Money Heist or Blacklist.
15:10Okay, those are good choices.
15:11Your favorite off-day activity?
15:13In-season, off-season, doesn't matter.
15:15You got a day free, you can do whatever you want.
15:18Fishing or golfing.
15:21Cheat meal.
15:21Be as fat as you want to.
15:22What are you eating?
15:28Chicken Alfredo or pizza, probably.
15:30And then my last one, Toby, if you got a couple, you could jump in.
15:33But I'll give you...
15:34How about, what is your nickname?
15:36G-rated nickname, preferably.
15:41I don't know.
15:42I've had a bunch of people call me different things.
15:45My first name's Todd.
15:46That's my dad's first name.
15:48So some people just call me Todd.
15:50But I've always gone by Connelly because me and my brothers all go by C names.
15:56People call me Earls, Early.
15:59Nothing too crazy.
16:00All based on my normal names.
16:03I'll ask this for our producer in the studio.
16:06Favorite superhero?
16:08Oh, favorite superhero, probably Batman.
16:11And then what's your favorite movie?
16:16Favorite movie?
16:19Probably The Accountant.
16:21Oh, that's a good one.
16:22That's a great movie.
16:23I've never heard anyone say that.
16:24Ben Affleck, silly.
16:26Wow.
16:26I was going to say, the Dark Knight series, if you're a Batman guy, you can't really beat that.
16:31Nolan's strong.
16:33I feel like Dark Knight's the easy answer there.
16:35Yeah.
16:35Definitely is.
16:36So, by the way, if you like Ben Affleck and you like The Accountant, there's no way.
16:40You just got out of Boston.
16:41The town.
16:42You got to love the town.
16:44I do love the town.
16:46I actually just watched that, I mean, couldn't have been more than a week ago for, I don't
16:51know, the fifth, sixth time.
16:53It's a slept on movie.
16:55Well, we're pumped to have you in D.C.
16:57Can't wait to see you on the mound here very soon.
16:59Hopefully, everything goes well on August 3rd.
17:01You're making a rehab start.
17:03Congratulations, though, man.
17:04You're in a city where people are very, very fired up that you're showing up here to help
17:08out.
17:10Yes, sir.
17:10Thank you all.
17:11I'm super excited to be here.
17:12You got it.
17:13There's Connelly, early Virginia native, back in the Commonwealth.
17:17Virginia is doing great.
17:18Yes.
17:20How about a 3-2-4 career ERA in 21 starts for him?
17:24So people forget this.
17:25Last year, he pitched four times at the end of the year.
17:28Think about calling a guy up.
17:29He pitches four times.
17:30And then he started at Yankee Stadium in the playoffs.
17:33That's crazy.
17:34That's why I wanted to talk about that composure.
17:36I mean, you got to feel confident in, like, the human being and the fact that he's not
17:40nervous if you're going to let him start at Yankee Stadium for his fifth start ever when
17:43he'd thrown 19 big league innings.
17:45Everything you see about this guy is every time he steps out there, there's composure
17:49that you wouldn't expect for someone with that little experience.
17:52And, you know, we'll see what he can turn into, whether it's a three-starter, maybe a
17:56little bit better, maybe a little bit worse.
17:58Regardless, he's someone that the Nationals are going to be able to bank on for a long,
18:01long time, assuming he's able to come back from this injury.
18:04And I'm really excited.
18:05I think he's someone that's easy to root for.
18:07And how cool is it that we just had Chris Okopian at the ballpark last week and him being
18:13obviously from the area growing up a Nats fan and another guy that grew up coming up
18:16to Nats games every now and then.
18:18How cool is that?
18:18Yeah, love that.
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