The White Sox have used flamethrowing lefty Garrett Crochet exclusively as a reliever to this point in his big league career, but the former No. 11 overall pick tells Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times that he still has his sights set on an eventual rotation spot. Asked about the possibility of returning to a starting role down the road, Crochet acknowledged that it’s something that’s “definitely in the back of my mind” and that he “hopes” to eventually have that opportunity.
Any such transition isn’t likely to happen in 2023 after the lefty pitched just 54 1/3 innings in 2021 before missing the 2022 season while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. The 6’6″ Crochet suggested that he’d be open to pitching in longer relief stints this season and building up his innings. Current ChiSox starters Lucas Giolito, Lance Lynn and Mike Clevinger could all hit the open market this offseason. Giolito is a free agent at season’s end, while Clevinger has a mutual option (which are rarely exercised by both parties) and Lynn has an $18MM club option that feels pricey relative to his current struggles.
With a thin collection of pitching in the team’s system and virtually no high-end pitching prospects knocking on the door to the big leagues, moving Crochet into the rotation next season alongside Dylan Cease and Michael Kopech makes sense for the Sox. The looming trade deadline could bring about a shakeup on the pitching staff, with Giolito the likeliest to go in the event of a deadline sale. The asking price on both Cease and Kopech would surely be high, with both under club control through the 2025 season.
For now, Crochet is likely to remain in the ’pen, where he was recently joined by returning closer Liam Hendriks. The 34-year-old Hendriks’ return from a battle with non-Hodgkins lymphoma was one of the best moments of the season for baseball fans, though it was quickly followed by an IL stint due to inflammation in his pitching elbow.
Luckily, imaging on Hendriks’ elbow did not reveal any structural damage, per Alden Gonzalez of ESPN. Hendriks has already received a cortisone shot to help combat the inflammation, and he’ll likely receive a platelet-rich plasma injection as well. Hendriks concedes that he felt “constant pain” throughout each of his past three appearances, wondering aloud whether his still-recent chemotherapy treatments have made it more difficult to recover between appearances.
Hendriks is hoping for a minimal stay on the 15-day IL but is on a wait-and-see timeline and stressed the importance of taking care of any health issues “the right way” during the current season. “I need to be cognizant of the way my body reacts and feels with everything, just due to the fact I still don’t have the strongest immune system,” Hendriks noted.
As for Clevinger, the Sox will perform additional testing on the righty today after he left last night’s start due to discomfort in his right biceps. Via Van Schouwen, Clevinger explained in the postgame that he “Felt my [biceps] grab, it grabbed pretty hard, kind of scared me”, though early testing in the trainer’s room was at least positive. The Sox will have a further update on him once today’s followup imaging is complete.
It almost feels like I have to be missing something, but does Crochet only hae 6 minor league IPs?
Yep. Drafted in 2020, went to work out at the alternate training site since there was no minor league season. Called up directly from the ATS in 2020, same year he was drafted.
Made the big league bullpen out of camp in ’21. Had Tommy John surgery in April 2022. His only minor league work was in 2023 while rehabbing from that TJS.
Correct. One of few pitchers in recent memory to make the jump from NCAA straight to MLB. If you want a bigger picture check out his NCAA stats
Buncha softies.
I hope this is satire.
I hope they keep Giolito but I know Reinsdorf won’t pay anywhere near what he deserves and would get on the open market. Clevinger’s better than I thought he’d be (how sad) but Lynn can go.
If the White Sox do decide to trade him, there will be quite a few teams in the bidding for him. Might get a decent haul for him even though he would be a potential rental for whomever gets him.
Not only is it unlikely that the Sox won’t pay his asking price, but Giolito is still irked from arbitration leading up to the ’22 season. I doubt he has any interest in returning.
Crochet’s fastball was down to 93 mph from 96.8.
That’s a huge drop and a warning sign. I know they need bullpens arms, but any chance they rushed both Hendriks and Crochet back?
Interesting to see when his next appearance is, and what his velocity is.
So Crochet last pitched in the Dodgers series, despite the Sox churning through the bullpen in Seattle. So what is going on with his arm?