Crochet Breaks Silence: ‘Long Since Accepted’ Red Sox Contract
Garrett Crochet’s Road Back: Red Sox Injury Updates Explained Simply
Hey there, baseball fans! Let’s break down what’s happening with the Boston Red Sox and their injured players. Think of this as your friendly neighborhood guide to understanding who’s hurt, who’s healing, and what it all means for the team.
What Happened to Garrett Crochet?
Garrett Crochet is one of the Red Sox’s best pitchers. Back in late April, he went on the Injured List (IL) — that’s like a timeout for players who are hurt and can’t play.
The Short Version:
- Original issue: Shoulder inflammation (fancy word for "swelling and soreness")
- What he thought: "It’s minor, I’ll be back soon!"
- Reality check: It turned out to be a bigger deal than expected
- Current mindset: He’s fully accepted the situation and just wants to help the team any way he can
Important Point: Crochet said, "I’ve long since accepted it. Regardless of that, my goal is to come back and help the team in any way that I can." That’s a great team-first attitude!
Crochet’s New Role: Reliever, Not Starter
Here’s the thing about baseball pitchers — there are two main types:
| Starter | Reliever |
|---|---|
| Starts the game | Comes in later (middle or end) |
| Throws 80-100+ pitches | Throws 15-30 pitches |
| Needs 4-5 days rest | Can pitch more often |
| Builds up slowly over spring training | Ramps up faster |
Why Crochet Will Be a Reliever This Year:
- No time to build up — Starting takes months of preparation
- Season is moving fast — Not enough games left to stretch him out
- Relieving is his only realistic path back to the mound in 2026
Think of it like this: Training for a marathon (starter) vs. training for sprints (reliever). Crochet only has time for sprint training right now.
How His Recovery Is Going — Step by Step
Crochet’s progress has been slow but steady. Here’s the play-by-play:
The Throwing Progression:
- Weeks 1-2: Playing catch from 60 feet (that’s the distance from the pitcher’s mound to home plate)
- Recent weeks: Moved back to 90 feet with more intensity (throwing harder, more like game speed)
- Current schedule: High-intensity throwing days on Tuesday and Friday
The Recovery Pattern (This Is Good News!):
- Tuesday: High-intensity day → some soreness next day
- Friday: High-intensity day → recovery was BETTER than Tuesday
- Trend: Each cycle, his body handles the workload a little better
Manager Chad Tracy’s Take: "Throwing with more intent, which is good. So, he’s just going to keep plugging along, and we’ll see how he progresses and where we can get him to."
Translation: Crochet is throwing with purpose (not just lobbing the ball), and the team is taking it day by day.
Other Red Sox Players on the Mend
Roman Anthony (Sprained Right Wrist/Hand)
- Status: Joining Triple-A Worcester (the team’s top minor league affiliate) to continue rehab
- Recent work: 3 hits in 11 at-bats (.273) over 4 games with Double-A Portland
- Also played: 7 innings in left field Sunday
- Manager’s view: Still in "building-up phase" for outfield defense and getting at-bats
Trevor Story (Sports Hernia) & Isiah Kiner-Falefa (Left Forearm Stress Reaction)
- Status: Up in the air — returning to Boston Monday for re-evaluation
- Story’s rehab stats: 4 hits in 21 at-bats (.191), no walks, no extra-base hits, played 3 days in a row
- Kiner-Falefa’s rehab stats: 1 hit in 13 at-bats (.077)
- Next steps: Team will decide Monday — could return to minors, could join big club, could need more time
Curtis Mead (Fractured Left Wrist)
- Monday: Getting follow-up scans to check healing (4-week checkup)
- Regardless of scan results: Moving from cast → splint for 2 more weeks
- After that: Hopes to start range-of-motion exercises (gentle movement to prevent stiffness)
Upcoming Pitching Plans
This Week’s Rotation (vs. Marlins):
- Monday: Ranger Suarez
- Tuesday: Payton Tolle
- Wednesday: Sonny Gray
The Tricky Part: Saturday Doubleheader vs. Yankees
- Two games in one day = need extra pitchers
- Potential spot starter: Alec Gamboa or Brayan Bello
- Decision depends on: How much the bullpen gets used Monday-Friday
More Good News on the Injury Front:
| Player | Injury | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Garrett Whitlock | Right elbow inflammation | Expected back Tuesday (when eligible) or shortly after |
| Justin Slaten | Right elbow inflammation | Played catch Sunday for first time since injury — about 5 days behind Whitlock |
Quick Hits & Fun Facts
- Sellout streak: 16 consecutive home games sold out!
- Sunday crowd: 36,278 fans at Fenway
- Special guest: Luke Murray (new Boston College men’s basketball coach) threw the ceremonial first pitch
- Rafael Devers’ return series: 1-for-10 with a homer, 3 strikeouts, 3 walks, zero games at first base
Summary: The Big Picture
| Player | Injury | Timeline | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garrett Crochet | Shoulder inflammation | Rehabbing, throwing 90 ft | Returning as reliever this season |
| Roman Anthony | Wrist/hand sprain | At Triple-A Worcester | Building up defense & at-bats |
| Trevor Story | Sports hernia | Re-eval Monday | Uncertain |
| Isiah Kiner-Falefa | Forearm stress reaction | Re-eval Monday | Uncertain |
| Curtis Mead | Fractured wrist | Scans Monday → splint 2 weeks | Starting motion exercises after |
| Garrett Whitlock | Elbow inflammation | Eligible Tuesday | Expected back soon |
| Justin Slaten | Elbow inflammation | First catch Sunday | ~5 days behind Whitlock |
Bottom line: The Red Sox are navigating a minefield of injuries, but there’s real progress on multiple fronts. Crochet’s acceptance and steady ramp-up is the biggest story — if he can return as a reliable reliever, that’s a huge boost for the stretch run.
FAQ: Your Questions Answered
Why can’t Crochet just start games if he’s a good pitcher?
Starting requires building arm strength over months to handle 100+ pitches every 5th day. It’s like training for a marathon. With the season already halfway over, there’s not enough time to safely ramp him up. Relieving (short bursts, more frequent) is like sprint training — much faster to prepare for.
What’s a "sports hernia" anyway?
Despite the name, it’s not a traditional hernia (where an organ pushes through muscle). It’s a tear or strain in the soft tissue of the lower abdomen/groin area — common in athletes who twist and turn suddenly. Surgery is often needed, and recovery takes weeks to months.
What does "stress reaction" mean for Kiner-Falefa’s forearm?
Think of it as Stage 1 of a stress fracture. The bone is irritated and inflamed from repeated stress (throwing), but hasn’t cracked yet. It’s a warning sign: "Hey, back off or this becomes a real fracture!" Rest and gradual return are the treatment.
Why do Whitlock and Slaten have the same injury but different timelines?
Every body heals differently! Factors include: exact location of inflammation, severity, age, previous injuries, and how their body responds to rest. Whitlock started throwing earlier, so he’s further along. Slaten just started playing catch — he’s on the same path, just a few days behind.
What’s a "spot start" and why might Gamboa or Bello get one?
A spot start is when a pitcher who normally relieves (or is in the minors) makes one start to fill a gap — like during a doubleheader when you need 2 starters in one day. Gamboa and Bello are stretched out enough to handle 4-5 innings, giving the regular starters proper rest.
Article based on reporting by Tim Healey, Boston Globe. Follow him @timbhealey for more Red Sox coverage!