As abysmal as the 2024 Chicago White Sox were with a modern MLB record 121 losses, Garrett Crochet was a gem. Although his 6-12 record isn't anything to brag about, he did strikeout 209 batters while walking only 33 in 146 innings pitched. Crochet posted an ERA of 3.81 which is quite respectable on a team which recorded an AL worst team ERA of 4.68. It was good enough to earn Crochet AL Comeback Player of the Year honors at the tender age of 25.
What is even more impressive is that the Mississippi born Crochet never started a big-league game until this season. A first-round draft pick by the Chisox in 2020 (after declining to sign with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2017 so he could attend the University of Tennessee), Crochet made his MLB debut late during the COVID shortened season. He pitched effectively out of the bullpen in 2021 before missing all of 2022 with Tommy John surgery. In his return in 2023, he picked up where he left off before being named the team's Opening Day starter in 2024 earning a spot as the White Sox's lone representative to the MLB All Star Game.
The one thing I worry about are the inevitable comparisons to Chris Sale, another southpaw who the Red Sox acquired from the White Sox. Aside from changing Sox, Sale was named NL Comeback of the Player for his renaissance season in Atlanta. Yet let us not forget that Sale pitched 7 full seasons on the South Side of Chicago, was named to five consecutive AL All-Star Teams along four Top 5 finishes in AL Cy Young balloting. Sale's resume is much deeper than Crochet.
With that said, Crochet has a lot going for him and coming to Boston will be a boost. At the very minimum it softens the blow of losing out on Max Fried to the Yankees. I am sure Crochet will weave some pitching masterpieces at Fenway in 2025 and beyond.
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