Crochet continues dominant spring with solid performance against Rays
If this spring is any indication of what the future holds for one of the Boston Red Sox’ offseason pitching acquisitions, it’s going to be a promising 2025.
Southpaw Garrett Crochet continued a dominant Spring Training Wednesday afternoon against the Rays at JetBlue Park, tossing three innings of scoreless ball, surrendering just two hits, one walk and striking out seven.
The 6-foot-6 Crochet, who was traded to the Red Sox this offseason from the Chicago White Sox, has yet to allow a run in 6 1/3 innings this spring, striking out 14 hitting and posting a 1.74 WHIP.
The 2024 American League All-Star is looking to build off of a stellar season, where he recorded a 3.58 ERA and struck out 209 batters across 146 innings.
Crochet said Wednesday’s outing, part of a 4-2 win over Tampa Bay, was the best he’s felt thus far in camp.
“First pitch strikes. Trending in the right direction,” Crochet said after his start. “Still not as many as I’d like.
“Sweepers were better today. Threw a couple of gyros (slider with downward action) today and those were good. Just felt like I was competing in the strike zone, and when I do that, I’m going to have success. That’s just my main takeaway.”
Spring Training, especially for pitchers, is all about gradually ramping up the workload so when Opening Day arrives, hurlers are ready for a heavier workload.
Crochet said he feels his progression has been trending in the right direction.
“It’s going well,” he said. “It was nice to complete my assignment and go the full three (innings).”
Crochet spoke about what he is calling a “gyro ball,” which he said is a sweeper with more downward movement opposed to the usual lateral movement associated with the pitch.
“The addition of that (pitch) is really the main thing I wouldn’t have come up with by myself,” Crochet when asked about a difference between camp with the Red Sox and White Sox. “I think similar to how I talked about the cutter protecting the fastball, and the two-seam protecting both of those, I think that the gyro has a similar purpose.
“It’s more of a downer. It’s similar (velocity) to the cutter, but more depth.”
Crochet said ever since he knew he would wear a Boston uniform when the trade happened on Dec. 11 of 2024, he’s felt comfortable in the organization.
“Going back to Winter Weekend, right away I felt like I belonged,” he said. “I think that everyone is getting along really well. The camaraderie is really good. Tons of communication from hitters and pitchers, and guys are really meshing well together. I feel like you don’t get that too often at this point in the year, guys tend to be in their own positional groups because that’s how the schedule is laid out. But I feel there’s been some good overlap.”
The Red Sox, who finished third in the American League East last season and have had a few down years, feel this group has the potential to make a deep playoff run thanks to offseason pickups.
The Sox made a ton of noise last month signing free agent third baseman Alex Bregman to a 3-year, $120 million deal.
The starting rotation for the Red Sox could certainly be one to watch, with Crochet at the top of the list. All-Star Tanner Houck, World Series champ last year with the Dodgers Walker Buehler, lost-to-injury last season Lucas Giolito, and young stud Brayan Bello round out the rotation. The Red Sox had a 4.04 team ERA last season, ranked 17th in baseball, though their starters pitched to a 3.81 ERA, the seventh best in baseball (16th overall in innings pitched).
As for how it’s been talking pitching with the boys, Crochet, the only lefty in the rotation, said, “It’s been great. Different because I’m left-handed. But hearing (Buehler) talk about sequencing — in the past I’ve always discussed being a crafty power-arm. But I feel that’s what he does, and he’s transitioning to more craft now that he’s bounced back from his second (Tommy John surgery). I think just learning from him in terms of sequencing has been very beneficial.”