Sentence:  The two top talents of the time , Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays , have hit the ball harder and more successfully so far this <WSD>early</WSD> season than at any period in careers which , to be frank about it , never have quite reached expectations . 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time