The Boston Red Sox received encouraging news regarding their rotation on Monday as ace left-hander Garrett Crochet threw a live batting practice session.
It marked his first outing with live hitters since May and represents a significant step forward in his recovery from left shoulder inflammation.
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Crochet has been sidelined since late April after making six starts and striking out 37 batters across 30 innings. Getting him in front of live hitters is the clearest indicator yet that a return before the postseason is being actively pursued rather than simply hoped for.
The Red Sox are monitoring his physical reaction closely before determining the next step, which would likely be a minor league rehab assignment prior to coming off the 60-day injured list.
When he does return, Boston is considering using him out of the bullpen rather than slotting him back into the rotation given the limited time remaining. Crochet has bullpen experience and could provide the Red Sox with a high-leverage left-handed option in the middle and late innings during a postseason run.
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Crochet was acquired from the Chicago White Sox in December 2024 and signed to a six-year, $170 million contract through 2031 by chief baseball officer Craig Breslow. He was the American League Cy Young runner-up in 2025, making him one of the more impactful arms Boston could add to their postseason staff if the recovery continues to trend in the right direction.
The Red Sox are firmly in the American League playoff picture and getting Crochet back healthy would give their pitching staff a significant boost heading into October.
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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
