Red Sox Fans Will Be Shocked By Connelly Early’s Real Name originally appeared on NESN.
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Turns out Boston Red Sox fans don’t know 24-year-old starting pitcher Connelly Early as well as they thought they did. The rookie made waves immediately after his mid-September call-up last season.
An impressive Spring Training earned the young arm a spot in Boston’s rotation to start the season, and fans are getting used to seeing him every fifth day, so they might as well know his real name.
In an appearance on WEEI’s official Red Sox podcast “Play Tessie,” Early told listeners the story of how he became known as Connelly.
“My first name is Todd,” Early told the podcast. “I go by Connelly because all of my brothers go by a ‘C’ name. So it’s four boys, four ‘C’s.’
“Todd is my dad’s first name. My dad didn’t want to name a kid after him, but i think my mom kind of pushed him into doing that. But Connelly’s from my mom’s side of the family – great grandmother – so that’s what I’ve always gone by.”
The pitcher acknowledged how perfectly fitting his Irish-sounding name is for his new home of Boston and shared a story from his time attending the United States Military Academy, when he was scared into being called Todd.
“When I was at West Point, I went by Todd because I didn’t want to have to correct officers or anything like that,” Early said.
Did you know Connelly Early’s first name is actually Todd? pic.twitter.com/RWfkpwY1Pd
— Play Tessie (@PlayTessie) April 7, 2026
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