The Boston Red Sox could get star left-handed pitcher Garrett Crochet back before the year is up.
Crochet was expected to be the team’s ace, but the left-hander has been on the injured list since April 29 due to left shoulder inflammation. The injury wasn’t considered long-term at the time, but Crochet has yet to pitch since then.
However, with the Red Sox in a playoff spot, Crochet is hoping to return for the playoff push and will pitch out of the bullpen.
“Crochet has increased his distance of throwing to 90 feet while adding intensity. He is trying to make it back as a reliever this season,” the MLB.com injury update article read.
Although Crochet is hopeful to return as a reliever, his timeframe is the end of the season as the best-case scenario.
Getting Crochet back for the playoffs would be a major addition to the Red Sox bullpen, as he can be a high-leverage left-handed reliever.
Garrett Crochet ‘Hopeful’ to Return to Red Sox Bullpen
GettyGarrett Crochet is hopeful to pitch again this season.
Although Crochet has missed nearly the entire season, the left-hander is hopeful to return this year.
Crochet won’t have time to build up as a starter, so he’s putting his focus on returning as a reliever for Boston.
“I’m quite hopeful,” Crochet said before going out to throw. “I’m not gonna say (when), because I don’t know. The past couple times I’ve been like, ‘Oh yeah, I probably don’t even need to go on the IL and here I (expletive) am, four months later. Right now, I’m trying to practice delayed gratification with myself. Unless I’m crossing the finish line, I’m not going to start celebrating.”
Crochet went 3-3 with a 6.30 ERA in 6 starts this season for Boston. He’s a two-time All-Star.
Boston Right Now
The Red Sox are firmly in a playoff spot and will look for a series sweep of the San Francisco Giants on Sunday.
Boston won the first two games at home and will send left-hander Jake Bennett to the mound on Sunday.
On Saturday, Wilyer Abreu hit a walkoff in the bottom of the ninth to give Boston a 3-2 win.
“I just tried to relax myself,” Abreu said. “Forget about what happened. Forget about all the strikeouts. Just try to put the ball in play. Anything, drive the ball, fly ball, sac fly, whatever it takes. I just tried to win the game at that moment. … They ripped my jersey, so if they had overturned the call, I would have had to come back [in the clubhouse] to grab another one. But it was crazy. The ending was just crazy.”
With the win, Boston is 70-59 and 6 games back of the Tampa Bay Rays for the top spot in the AL East.
Red Sox Get Major Update on Garrett Crochet During Giants Series