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‘The Red Sox really got a special arm’: Former Boston coach talks up Garrett Crochet
The former Red Sox coach thinks Crochet will be "in the inner circle of one of the five best pitchers in baseball next year."
After initially failing to land several offseason targets, the Red Sox finally pulled off a deal to acquire a top-level pitcher earlier in December when Boston announced that it had traded for left-hander Garrett Crochet.
Crochet, 25, is an immensely talented player who also still carries vast untapped potential. Acquired from the White Sox for four prospects (including three of the team’s top-10 rated minor leaguers), big things are expected of him.
In terms of endorsements, he received a glowing one from a former Red Sox coach.
Brian Bannister, who had a five-year MLB pitching career and was with the Red Sox in a variety of coaching and front office roles from 2016-2019, recently spoke to Audacy’s Rob Bradford about Crochet during an episode of the podcast, “Baseball Isn’t Boring.”
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“I think Garrett would have won the Cy Young last year if he was just allowed to be himself,” Bannister asserted in the discussion with Bradford. Crochet posted a 6-12 record (albeit playing for the worst baseball team in MLB history) with a 3.58 ERA and 209 strikeouts in 146 innings pitched.
“I don’t think it was in the best interest long term, but if you look at his rate stats: His ability to strike people out, his ability to get swing and miss in the zone, his ability to limit his walks — he will give up a homer now and then — but I think [he will be] in the inner circle of one of the five best pitchers in baseball next year.
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“The Red Sox really got a special arm,” Bannister added.
Morning podcast: This is next-level pitching talk with @RealBanny, who offers up everything you want to know about the past, present and future of Garrett Crochet.
— Baseball Isn’t Boring (@BBisntBoring) December 16, 2024
Listen: https://t.co/xRdwhjSJlt pic.twitter.com/HwbdMmaupO
Of course, Bannister had a better vantage point than most to see Crochet’s development. In 2024, he served as the White Sox senior pitching advisor. Boston’s new lefty switched to a full-time role in the starting rotation in the past season, showing that his ability to dominate hitters extended beyond shorter stints as a reliever.
“You’re basically getting an elite, elite closer, almost like an Aroldis Chapman-type,” Bannister said. “But a guy that’s capable of going six innings and maintaining that level of performance. I really think the Red Sox got somebody special.”
Crochet had Tommy John surgery in 2022, and didn’t return until over a year later. However since being back, he’s continued to develop as a pitcher. Possessing four (and sometimes five) pitches — including a four-seam fastball that averaged 97.1 mph in the past season — he is a strong candidate to be the 2025 Red Sox opening day starter.
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