Top veteran star quickly proved the Boston Red Sox made a smart investment. Just two days after signing a six-year, $170 million extension, the 25-year-old left-hander delivered the best performance of his career, pitching eight scoreless innings in a 3-0 win over the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park. He gave up only four hits, issued one walk, and struck out eight, throwing 102 pitches—just one short of his career high.
“My first start in college went eight innings, and I haven’t come close to that since,” he said with a smile after the game.
His impressive performance reinforced Boston’s decision to secure him through 2031, and manager Alex Cora didn’t hesitate to commend the front office for its investment in their new ace. “That’s why he’s here. That’s why we made that commitment,” Cora said.
The Red Sox acquired Crochet in a major December trade with the White Sox, sending top prospects Kyle Teel and Braden Montgomery in exchange for a high-potential arm. Although Crochet had limited starting experience in the majors, Boston was confident in his talent and work ethic, making him the second-highest-paid starting pitcher in the team’s history, behind only David Price’s $217 million contract.
The Red Sox’ extension of Garrett Crochet seems to be paying off so far
Boston Red Sox pitcher Garrett Crochet (35) delivers a pitch during the fourth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Crochet, who had only 146 career innings as a starter due to past injuries and bullpen roles, mentioned that the decision to remain in Boston was made quickly.
“Since the trade went through, we knew Boston was a place we’d love to stay long term,” Crochet told reporters. “Big credit to the front office for staying on top of things, and to my agency as well.”
In a tweet by MassLive’s Christopher Smith, Crochet revealed just how close the deal was to not happening before Opening Day: “Crochet had set an Opening Day deadline for extension talks. But the sides were close enough he was willing to extend it. He said it was so close ‘You could smell it.’”
Boston’s front office, led by chief baseball officer Craig Breslow, saw a rare opportunity to lock in a 25-year-old ace with elite strikeout stuff. Crochet’s 2024 performance — including a league-leading 35.1% strikeout rate among starters — was comparable to that of Cy Young winners Tarik Skubal and Chris Sale, and he was one of the few bright spots on a White Sox team with 121 losses.
“There’s always risk associated with these types of contracts,” Breslow said earlier this week. “But we believe Garrett’s best days are ahead of him.”
Boston’s victory over Baltimore also showcased other promising moments. Young infielder Kristian Campbell, who signed his own eight-year, $60 million deal Wednesday, doubled twice. Rafael Devers snapped an 0-for-21 slump to start the season with an RBI double and added another hit later. But the night truly belonged to Crochet — both as a pitcher and as a statement.
“I can’t remember the last time I played baseball just for pride,” Crochet said. “To have this security and feel like I’m playing to win ballgames, it takes a lot of the riff-raff out of it.”