Cup of Coffee: Bello sharp in rehab outing; Early strikes out seven

4/7 Cup of Coffee: While the biggest prospect-related story was Hunter Dobbins making his major league debut on Sunday night, it was still a busy day on the farm with all four full-season affiliates in action. Brayan Bello inched closer to a return in Worcester, while Connelly Early (pictured) put up impressive strikeout numbers in Portland. In the lower minors, Nazzan Zanetello and Franklin Arias stayed hot. 

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The Jumbo Shrimp scored a run in the eighth and a run in the ninth to walk off with a victory. Brayan Bello was sharp in another rehab assignment, but only went 56 pitches as he continues to ramp up. He struck out four and allowed one run over 3 1/3 innings. Wyatt Mills struck out two over 1 2/3 scoreless frames, and Luis Guerrero allowed just an unearned run in the eighth after an error by catcher Seby Zavala on a pickoff attempt. Isaiah Campbell allowed the walk-off single in the ninth. Zavala was the lone batter to record an RBI with a double in the second, while Roman Anthony went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts. 

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An RBI single from Ronald Rosario put Portland ahead in the ninth, and Jonathan Brand came in to get a strikeout with the bases loaded in the bottom of the inning to slam the door on Reading. Connelly Early allowed an unearned run over 3 2/3 hitless innings, walking two and striking out seven. Brendan Cellucci kept the Fightin Phils off the board for the next 2 1/3, and Gabriel Jackson earned the win after pitching a scoreless eighth. Jackson did load the bases with two outs in the ninth, but Brand picked him up to record the final out. Aside from Rosario, the big hit was a two-run home run from Tyler Miller to put the Sea Dogs on the board in the seventh. 

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Greenville's bullpen got hit hard in a game that was shortened due to rain. Jedixson Paez got the first six outs and needed only 26 pitches, but he was replaced by Erik Rivera in the third inning. There is no word on if that was a planned exit or if Paez suffered an injury. Rivera was tagged for six runs (five earned) over 3 1/3, and Adam Smith gave up three runs over the final 1 2/3. Nazzan Zanetello went 2 for 2 with a double and a walk as he reached base seven times in eight plate appearances over his first two games. Nelly Taylor went 1 for 3 with an RBI double.

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Salem improved to 3-0 as they held off a late rally by Delmarva. Luis Cohen retired all six batters he faced to start the game, and Matt McShane was excellent in his professional debut. McShane, a 13th-round pick in 2024, was acquired from the Pirates for Chase Shugart in the offseason. Shugart was busy on Sunday as well, making his MLB debut in a win over the Yankees. For Salem, McShane struck out six and allowed just an unearned run over 2 2/3 innings. Nathanael Cruz worked out of trouble to notch his first save despite allowing two runs in the ninth. Franklin Arias went 1 for 3 with a walk and a steal, Natanael Yuten went 2 for 4 with a double and two RBI, and Starlyn Nunez went 1 for 3 with a walk and an RBI. 

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Player of the Day: While he only pitched 3 2/3 innings and threw 62 pitches, Connelly Early had a stellar season debut for the Sea Dogs. He struck out seven of the 14 batters he faced and did not allow a hit. The two walks and the unearned run were the only blemishes on his box score. The 22-year-old left-hander rose to number 10 in the season-opening rankings and was named a 2025 SoxProspects.com Pre-Season All-Star.