Garrett Crochet’s Masterpiece: Red Sox Ace Delivers Postseason Push Amid White Sox Shadows
TORONTO – Garrett Crochet stood on the mound at Rogers Centre on Wednesday night, the cool September air carrying whispers of what could be his final regular-season start of 2025. Eight scoreless innings later, with six strikeouts including his 250th of the year, the Boston Red Sox ace had etched another chapter in what has become a redemption story for the ages. The 26-year-old left-hander, who crossed the 200-inning threshold for the first time in his career, lowered his ERA to a sparkling 2.59 and solidified his lead in MLB’s innings pitched category. Boston’s 7-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays pushed the Red Sox to the brink of a postseason berth, a far cry from the turmoil that defined Crochet’s days in Chicago.
It was a performance that screamed dominance, yet Crochet’s postgame words carried an undercurrent of fire. “I’m not at all satisfied,” he said, his voice steady but laced with determination. “I don’t intend on that being my last one.” The comment was a pointed nod to the playoffs ahead, but it also evoked the raw emotion of his journey. Traded from the Chicago White Sox in July 2024 after a public standoff over his workload and contract extension, Crochet arrived in Boston as a high-risk, high-reward acquisition. The White Sox, mired in a historically dismal season, dealt him to the Red Sox for a package headlined by outfielder Jarren Duran and prospects. At the time, it felt like a betrayal to many fans who had watched Crochet blossom from a 2020 draftee into a potential ace, limited by injuries and team mismanagement.
Back in Chicago, the move still stings. Crochet’s 2025 stats – 18 wins, a WHIP under 1.00, and that strikeout crown all but locked up – serve as a glaring indictment of the White Sox front office. “It’s another bad look for them,” one former Sox executive told ESPN on condition of anonymity. “We had a guy who could have been our cornerstone, and we let him walk for scraps.” White Sox Nation, already reeling from a 100-loss campaign in 2024, watches from afar as their former star propels Boston toward contention. Social media buzzed with divided reactions: some fans expressed sympathy for Crochet’s “hidden pain” during his Chicago tenure, while others decried the trade as outright injustice, fueling boycott calls against team ownership.
For Crochet, the pain was real. Drafted ninth overall out of the University of Tennessee, he debuted in the shortened 2020 season amid the COVID-19 pandemic, immediately showing ace potential with a 2.79 ERA in relief. But Tommy John surgery in 2022 sidelined him for a full year, and upon return in 2023, the White Sox flip-flopped his role between starter and reliever, citing injury concerns. By spring 2024, frustrations boiled over. Crochet demanded either a long-term extension or a trade if the team planned to stretch him out as a full-time starter without security. “I poured everything into this organization,” he later reflected in a rare interview with The Athletic. “The lack of trust hurt more than any arm issue.” The White Sox, prioritizing rebuild over retention, pulled the trigger on the deal, sending shockwaves through the league.
In Boston, however, Crochet has thrived under manager Alex Cora’s steady hand. The Red Sox committed to his starter role from day one, monitoring his pitch count meticulously while allowing him to unleash his triple-digit fastball and devastating slider. “He’s our guy now,” Cora said after Wednesday’s gem. “The way he competes, it’s like he has something to prove every outing.” Teammates rave about his quiet intensity; catcher Connor Wong noted how Crochet’s preparation rivals that of veterans like Chris Sale. The trade not only bolstered Boston’s rotation but also injected a narrative of resilience into a clubhouse hungry for October baseball after missing the playoffs since 2021.
As the Red Sox eye a wild-card spot – needing just one more win or a competitor’s loss to clinch – Crochet’s transformation from scorned talent to postseason linchpin resonates deeply. His season stats paint a picture of excellence: leading the majors with 209 innings, a career-high 250 strikeouts, and opponents batting just .198 against him. Yet, it’s the emotional arc that captivates. From the chills of betrayal in Chicago to the chills of triumph in Boston, Crochet embodies the unpredictable heart of baseball. White Sox fans may harbor anger, but Red Sox supporters are already chanting his name. In a sport rife with ethical conflicts over player treatment and loyalty, Crochet’s story divides opinions: hero to some, cautionary tale to others. Whatever the playoffs hold, one thing is clear – this ace is just getting started.
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