Early Returns to Pitch for Nationals | Washington Nationals News

**Corey** (0:00)
It's September 8th. This is Washington Nationals News Today, AI powered updates on your team. I'm Corey with the story. So, the Washington Nationals made a move back on July 26th, bringing in a left-handed pitcher named Connelly Early from the Boston Red Sox.
This happened even though Early was dealing with some elbow inflammation and was on the injured list. The team was banking on him being able to contribute before the season wrapped up. Now, the latest is that Early is set to make his organizational debut on Tuesday. He's heading to the Bridge League, which is basically a spot for younger players and recent draft picks to keep developing after their regular season ends. It's a step down from what was originally planned, but it's a big deal for him to get back on the mound. This is a significant development because there was genuine worry that Early might not pitch again this year. The fear was that his elbow issues could lead to serious surgery like Tommy John. The Nationals, though, have maintained their belief that he wouldn't need that kind of procedure. We don't know exactly how much he'll throw or how sharp he'll be given he's been sidelined for a while. But the fact that he's healthy enough for a live game is a major victory in itself. It keeps the possibility alive for him to potentially make a debut with the big club before the end of 2026
Getting him back out there no matter the league is a huge positive.
It shows progress and gives the team a chance to see what he can do as he works his way back.