When the Red Sox acquired Crochet from the White Sox in December 2024, it was viewed as a bold, aggressive move. Boston gave up four top prospects—catcher Kyle Teel, outfielder Braden Montgomery, infielder Chase Meidroth, and right-hander Wikelman Gonzalez—to land the lanky lefty. Many around the league questioned the price tag. But within months, those questions faded. Crochet didn’t just fill a rotation spot; he redefined it.
In his first full season as a starter in 2024, Crochet showcased his electric stuff and durability, finishing the year with a 3.58 ERA and an eye-popping 209 strikeouts over 146 innings. That campaign earned him an All-Star nod and set the tone for what would come next. The Red Sox clearly believed in his long-term value, locking him up to a six-year, $170 million extension that keeps him in Boston through 2031. It now looks like a bargain.
Crochet’s arsenal is a nightmare for hitters. He features a four-seam fastball that averages 97 mph, a nasty cutter, a sweeping slider that induces ugly swings, and a changeup that keeps right-handers honest. His command has sharpened dramatically, and he’s learned to mix speeds and sequences with the confidence of a veteran. Former Red Sox pitching coach Brian Bannister even went so far as to say Crochet has “top five pitcher in baseball” potential—and performances like his latest gem make it hard to argue.
More than just stats, though, it’s Crochet’s poise and leadership that have begun to define him. On a team searching for a new identity post-Chris Sale and Nathan Eovaldi, Crochet has stepped in as the tone-setter, the dependable horse every fifth day, and the kind of competitor Boston fans rally behind. Fenway Park buzzes a little louder on nights he takes the hill.
With the Red Sox in the midst of a playoff push, Crochet’s latest masterpiece feels like more than just another win—it feels like the beginning of something special. If he keeps pitching like this, he won’t just be remembered as a top-tier starter in 2025—he’ll be remembered alongside Pedro Martinez, Roger Clemens, and Jon Lester as one of the great Red Sox aces of all time. Garrett Crochet hasn’t just arrived; he’s etched his name into Boston lore, one strikeout at a time.
