Boston Red Sox pitchers and catchers reported to spring training in Fort Myers on Tuesday, including Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet.
After being traded from the Chicago White Sox to Boston last winter, Crochet immediately established himself as the leader of the Red Sox’s rotation and one of the best pitchers in baseball. He set career highs in nearly every category, going 18-5 with a 2.59 ERA while leading the American League in strikeouts and innings pitched, finishing second to Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal in the AL Cy Young race.
Crochet followed that up by winning his first career playoff start, dominating the New York Yankees over 7 2/3 innings of one-run ball in Game 1 of the AL Wild Card Series.
It’s a new season now, however, and every year is different. The two-time All-Star knows success isn’t guaranteed and needs to be earned through hard work.
“One good year doesn’t make you a great player. I’ve got to earn my stripes every year,” Crochet told Alex Speier of The Boston Globe.
Story continues below advertisement
That’s the right attitude and what Boston fans want to hear from their Opening Day starter. Crochet has improved dramatically in each of his last two seasons, going from a bullpen arm in 2023 to an All-Star in 2024 to a Cy Young candidate in 2025.
The 26-year-old lefty doesn’t have much room for improvement, but it’s encouraging that he’s still looking to polish his game heading into the first season of his six-year, $170 million contract extension.
Story continues below advertisement
According to Speier, Crochet wants to improve fastball command and tinker with a new changeup grip this spring. If he succeeds, he could be even more unhittable this year.
While the Red Sox beefed up their rotation behind him this winter, they’re still counting on him to lead their staff again and hopefully pitch them to a World Series championship this fall.
Featured image via Dale Zanine/Imagn Images
