After their many starting pitching acquisitions this offseason, national media outlets have made predictions for the Boston Red Sox's 2025 starting rotation.
But many have made a curious omission. Garrett Crochet, Tanner Houck, Walker Buehler, Brayan Bello, Kutter Crawford and Richard Fitts star in most Red Sox rotation projections. Lucas Giolito has rarely been mentioned as a potential option.
The veteran righty doesn't understand why. Giolito experienced a partial UCL tear and flexor strain during spring training 2024. He underwent the internal brace procedure to repair the elbow damage before the season even began — the internal brace procedure is said to have a shorter recovery time than Tommy John surgery, which Giolito already had in 2012.
The assertion of a shorter recovery time must be true. On the Dec. 30 installment of Rob Bradford's "Baseball Isn't Boring" podcast, Giolito gave a positive update about his healing process and where he stands for spring training.
Lucas Giolito attests he'll be ready to pitch in the Red Sox rotation by Opening Day
Morning podcast: Lucas Giolito sets the record straight. The Red Sox pitcher responds to internet guesses about when he will be pitching (while also talking movies, Fried, Crochet, 6-man rotations and tattoos).
— Baseball Isn’t Boring (@BBisntBoring) December 30, 2024
Listen: https://t.co/satxY0dFZv pic.twitter.com/OiwViSebog
"I'm going to be ready for a full spring training and a full season. So, you know, I find it funny when I see the stuff online saying that I'll be coming back in June — I don't know where that came from, I have no idea," Giolito said. ". . . If I'm in a position where I need to compete for a rotation spot, I'm ready to do so."
The Red Sox signed Giolito to a one-year deal with a player option for a second in hopes that he can find his 2019-21 success when he posted a 3.47 ERA over 72 starts across the three seasons. He also earned Cy Young votes in each of those years.
Giolito shouldn't be overlooked in Boston's rotation projections. Bello and Fitts are young and Crawford gave up a league-leading 34 home runs last year. Not everyone who undergoes UCL surgery recovers well, but Giolito plans to make an impact in a "prove-it" year.