Red Sox Pitcher Credits New Diet For Sparking Breakout Season

Baseball fans see countless “Best Shape Of My Life” stories during the spring. Improved results don’t always follow, but one Boston Red Sox player’s off-field changes may have helped him stay on the field in 2025.

After missing most of the 2024 campaign with a UCL injury, Garrett Whitlock returned as a top performer in Boston’s bullpen. The converted starter registered a 2.25 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 72 innings as Alex Cora’s most reliable right-handed relief pitcher.

Courtesy of MassLive’s Chris Cotillo, Whitlock made some lifestyle adjustments before the breakout season. Along with adding supplements to his diet, Whitlock hired a chef company to prepare meals for him and his wife.

Whitlock, who made the dietary changes in conjunction with bloodwork tests, believes his healthier eating habits helped him avoid the injured list in 2025.

“Coming into the year, I had tried a bunch of different things to try to stay healthy and the one thing I had never done was a strict diet,” Whitlock said. “I got with them, and they did a bunch of stuff on me to check and see what I needed. I’ve worked with them all year. I’ve had some cheat days, but for the most part, I’ve tried to stay really diligent on their diet.

“There’s no correlative way to tell me it’s the reason, but I think it’s definitely a huge part that has helped for sure.”

Whitlock worked 90 combined innings in the previous two seasons despite making 14 starts. Moving back to the bullpen benefited the 29-year-old, who allowed four runs in his final 31 innings of the regular season.

The bounce-back year unfortunately ended on a sour note, as Whitlock allowed the go-ahead run in a Game 2 playoff loss to the New York Yankees. He was still relieved to stay healthy all season as the Red Sox’s shutdown setup man.

“It has been a breath of fresh air to be able to contribute and be on the field every day,” Whitlock said.