Garrett Crochet's delayed return from a shoulder injury has been one of the most frustrating parts of a rollercoaster season for the Boston Red Sox, devolving from something that wasn't "all that serious" into a five-month layoff for one of the best pitchers in the game. His timeline has needed constant updates all year long, with no one ever truly knowing when (or if) he'd return.
That whole process hit another snag last week, when Crochet was clocked throwing in the low-90s during a side session at Polar Park in Worcester. Some genuine concerns arose from that report, with fans and pundits asking if the southpaw was even close to healthy enough to face live batters.
Well, he did just that on Tuesday, and it's safe to say it went well. His velocity trended way up, back into the mid-90s, and he told reporters after the bullpen session that he feels good enough to "get outs" against major-league hitters right now.
Garrett Crochet ended up throwing a total of 16 pitches in his first live BP.
— Tyler Milliken (@tylermilliken_) September 22, 2026
Velocity was in the 94-96 range. Few ticks up from the last time he threw a regular bullpen. Currently feeling good and thinks he can get outs.
Some great video from @alexspeier. pic.twitter.com/ZMsMmUXzvU
There's no time left for him to embark on a rehab assignment (the WooSox's season came to an end on Sunday following a rainout), so building up his stamina to handle a big workload is out of the question. Still, he could return as a reliever, arming Chad Tracy with yet another power arm to deploy in leverage moments in October.
Garrett Crochet must be handled delicately if Red Sox hope to get the most out of him in October
There are a number of ways to involve Crochet as a reliever. He could be the opener or piggyback for Brayan Bello, though the right-hander has looked good as a true starter recently. Alternatively, he could be the first guy out of the bullpen if Sonny Gray or Ranger Suarez run into trouble, offering opposing lineups a completely different look as an imposing, hard-throwing southpaw.
The hardest thing, regardless of the role the team settles on, will be trust. Crochet hasn't pitched in a live game since April 25. In three of his six starts prior to hitting the injured list, he allowed five or more runs. There's no guarantee that he's going to step out onto the mound and be the 2025 Cy Young contender we all miss dearly.
As such, his most likely role (at least initially) will be in mop-up duty. Blowouts are few and far between in the postseason, but that's really the only situation the Red Sox can introduce him back to without exposing him to the brightest lights October has to offer. It won't do anyone any good if he takes the mound for the first time in five months and promptly gets shelled, costing the Sox a game.
There is ample reason for optimism now that Crochet appears to be firing on all cylinders. Heck, he might be on the precipice of a legendary October run as a member of the 'pen. But it's fair to add some caution to the pot as well, knowing that his health for 2027 and beyond remains the top priority.
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