Early Returns to Pitch This Sunday | Washington Nationals News

**Corey** (0:00)
It's September 12th. You're listening to Washington Nationals News Today, AI-powered coverage of your team.
I'm Corey with the story. The Nationals made a big move back in July, trading for pitcher Connelly Early from the Red Sox. The idea was to add a serious arm to the rotation, but since he was acquired, he's been sidelined with injuries, first elbow inflammation, and then.
Forearm tightness. There was some real worry he'd be out for a long stretch, but he's been working his way back. Now, the good news is, Connelly Early is slated to pitch for Double-A Harrisburg this Sunday.
This comes after he got his first taste of game action in the Bridge League earlier this week. It's a significant step in his recovery process. This is huge because Early has the potential to be a top-tier starter, something the Nationals really need. He showed flashes of that talent with the Red Sox, posting a solid earned run average and striking out batters at a good clip. Even just seeing him on the mound for Washington before the season wraps up would be a massive relief for the team. There's still a chance he might need a procedure this winter due to the ongoing arm issues, but getting him back for even one start this year would be a positive sign. If he pitches well on Sunday and feels good, his next stop could be Triple-A Rochester, which would open the door for a potential debut with the Nationals in their final series. For now, though, the focus is on the Sunday start at the Double-A level. It's a crucial milestone in his rehab and everyone will be watching to see how he performs and, more importantly, how he feels afterward.