Crochet Breaks Silence: ‘Long Since Accepted’ Red Sox Contract Shift
Red Sox Injury Updates: Crochet’s Comeback Plan and Other Player News
ELI5 Summary: The Boston Red Sox have several injured players working their way back. The biggest story is pitcher Garrett Crochet, who’s been out since April with a sore shoulder. He’s now planning to come back as a reliever (a pitcher who enters the game later) instead of a starter. Other players like Roman Anthony, Trevor Story, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa are also on the mend.
Garrett Crochet’s Road Back
The Situation
- Injury: Shoulder inflammation (swelling and pain)
- Timeline: On the Injured List (IL) since late April
- Original Role: Starting pitcher (pitches at the beginning of games)
- New Plan: Return as a reliever (pitches in middle/end of games)
Why the Change to Reliever?
Important Point: Starting pitchers need weeks to build up arm strength for 5+ innings. Crochet doesn’t have enough time left in the season to do this safely. Relievers only pitch 1-2 innings, so he can return much faster.
Crochet’s Mindset
"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." — Garrett Crochet
Step-by-Step Progress
- Weeks 1-2: Light throwing from 60 feet (short distance)
- Recent Weeks: Increased intensity from 90 feet (standard pitching distance)
- Current Pattern:
- High-intensity throwing day (Tuesday)
- Recovery day (Wednesday)
- High-intensity throwing day (Friday)
- Good News: Friday recovery was better than Tuesday recovery!
Manager’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." — Chad Tracy (Interim Manager)
Rehab Roundup: Other Injured Players
| Player | Injury | Current Status | Next Steps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roman Anthony | Sprained right wrist/hand | Played 4 games in Double-A (3 for 11, 7 innings in left field) | Joining Triple-A Worcester Monday to continue rehab |
| Trevor Story | Sports hernia | 6 rehab games (4 for 21, no walks, no extra-base hits) | Returning to Boston Monday for re-evaluation |
| Isiah Kiner-Falefa | Left forearm stress reaction | 1 for 13 in rehab games | Returning to Boston Monday for re-evaluation |
Manager’s Quote on Story & Kiner-Falefa: "Up in the air. We’ll see how they feel when they come in here [Monday] and figure out what we’re going to do there… what moves we’ll make or if they’re going to go back out and continue to play [in the minors]." — Chad Tracy
Curtis Mead Update
- Injury: Fractured left wrist
- Monday: Four-week follow-up scans (X-rays/CT to check healing)
- Regardless of Scan Results: Moving from cast → splint for 2 more weeks
- After That: Hopes to start range-of-motion exercises
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 (relievers) gets used earlier in the week
Bullpen Injury Updates
| Pitcher | Injury | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Justin Slaten | Right elbow inflammation | Played catch Sunday (first time since injury) — ~5 days behind Whitlock |
| Garrett Whitlock | Right elbow inflammation | Expected back Tuesday (when eligible) or shortly after |
Quick Team Notes
- 16 consecutive home sellouts (Sunday crowd: 36,278)
- Luke Murray (new Boston College basketball coach) threw ceremonial first pitch
- Rafael Devers in 3 games since return: 1 for 10, 1 HR, 3 Ks, 3 walks, 0 games at first base
Summary
The Red Sox are navigating a busy injury season with multiple key players on the mend:
- Garrett Crochet (shoulder) has accepted a reliever role for his return — his fastest path back
- Progress is steady: Now throwing from 90 feet with improving recovery between sessions
- Roman Anthony advances to Triple-A; Story & Kiner-Falefa get re-evaluated Monday
- Curtis Mead gets wrist scans Monday, then transitions to a splint
- Rotation set for Marlins series; doubleheader vs. Yankees requires creative planning
- Two relievers (Slaten, Whitlock) working back from elbow issues
The team stays competitive (16 straight sellouts show fan support!) while carefully managing player health for both now and the future.
FAQ
1. What’s the difference between a starter and a reliever?
Starters begin the game and pitch 5-7 innings. Relievers enter later and pitch 1-2 innings. Starters need more arm strength/endurance, which takes weeks to build. Crochet doesn’t have that time, so reliever is his only option this year.
2. Why does throwing distance matter (60 feet vs 90 feet)?
60 feet = short, easy tosses (early rehab). 90 feet = near mound distance (advanced rehab). Moving to 90 feet with "greater intensity" means Crochet’s shoulder is handling real pitching mechanics again.
3. What is a "sports hernia"?
Despite the name, it’s not a true hernia. It’s a tear/strain in the soft tissue (muscles/tendons) of the lower abdomen/groin area. Common in athletes who twist/sprint. Surgery often needed, but rehab can work too.
4. What does "when eligible" mean for Garrett Whitlock?
Players on the 15-day IL can return after 15 days. "When eligible" means the first day he’s allowed back by rule — which is Tuesday. The team expects him then or soon after.
5. Why does the doubleheader make pitching "tricky"?
Two games = 18+ innings to cover in one day. Normal rotation pitchers need 4-5 days rest. The team needs a "spot starter" (someone not in the regular rotation) for one game, likely Gamboa or Bello, depending on who’s rested.
Article based on reporting by Tim Healey (Boston Globe)