What Alex Cora Said About Garrett Crochet’s Red Sox Spring Training Debut

The Boston Red Sox received their long-awaited glimpse of Garrett Crochet during Sunday’s spring training matchup against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Crochet, who the Red Sox acquired in the offseason from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for four prospects, including catcher Kyle Teel, took the mound to start. The left-hander didn’t remain on the bump for too long as Crochet’s trailer for 2025 ended after 1 2/3 innings and 27 pitches. He allowed three hits and a walk but also struck out four Blue Jays hitters in Boston’s 8-7 loss to Toronto.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora, without getting too in-depth into Crochet’s unofficial debut with the organization, offered a brief optimistic and eager takeaway.

“Mechanically, he’ll be OK,” Cora told reporters, per The Boston Globe’s Julian McWilliams. “I think his stuff will play. We got that one out of the way. Now we just build up to be ready for Texas (on Opening Day).”

Boston committed a major investment in making Crochet a member of the Red Sox, but one that was needed. Pitching depth anchored the club last season and even though the open market was filled with rotation options, Boston identified Crochet, who recorded a 3.58 ERA across 32 starts last season, as the guy to pursue in the winter. Crochet alone boosts the team’s starting rotation immensely, giving Cora’s squad a flamethrowing southpaw fresh off logging a career-high 146 innings in Chicago.

Even before Crochet suited up and took the field at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers, Fla., optimism catapulted within the team’s fan base — and understandably so.

It’s been four years since the last time the Red Sox punched their playoff ticket, and the issues the past few seasons have been constant: pitching depth, battles with the injured list, and defensive miscues, among others.

Crochet’s addition to the roster triggered a domino effect. Boston chief baseball officer Craig Breslow followed the team’s acquisition of Crochet by signing free agent starting pitchers Walker Buehler and Patrick Sandoval. The Red Sox were also allowed to re-transfer right-hander Garrett Whitlock, coming off a season-ending elbow injury, to the bullpen where he initially flourished four years ago upon joining the team.

Fellow first-year Red Sox and infielder Alex Bregman was also impressed with Crochet’s work on Sunday.

“He was great,” Bregman said, per McWilliams. “He punched out the side in the first. His stuff’s electric. Just from facing him over the past few years, he’s been fun to watch, difficult to face. So glad I’m on his team.”

Crochet and the Red Sox are now less than five weeks away from Opening Day.