How Garrett Crochet Already Swayed From Red Sox-Chris Sale Comparison

The Boston Red Sox faced old friend Chris Sale in Saturday’s Grapefruit League matchup against the Atlanta Braves.

That felt significant on the same day the Red Sox named Garrett Crochet, their offseason addition from the Chicago White Sox that draws numerous comparisons to Sale, as their 2025 Opening Day starter.

Now, there’s plenty of understandable ties to the comparisons. Both starters are tall-framed, flame-throwing left-handers that can lead a pitching staff. Crochet, however, already earned a big distinction that Sale did not have.

Sale took the ball as the Opening Day starter for the Red Sox in 2018 and 2019, but not in his first season in Boston in 2017. He probably would’ve been the pick in any other year, but Rick Porcello entered the season as the reigning American League Cy Young winner after 22 wins in 2016. Instead, Sale got the ball in the first night game of the season when he struck out seven hitters in seven shutout innings of an eventual walk-off win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Crochet now gets the ball in the opener in his debut season with the Red Sox, which Sale did not see until his second year in Boston.

Red Sox fans certainly hope Crochet does what Sale did when he recorded the final out of a championship for Boston in the 2018 World Series. For now, Crochet prepares to take the ball in Texas against the Rangers on March 27.