Crochet named White Sox Opening Day starter, making history?

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- White Sox pitching coach Ethan Katz had exciting news to deliver to Garrett Crochet when pulling him aside Sunday afternoon in the White Sox complex at Camelback Ranch. Or so Crochet had been told.

Crochet, who is making the move from the bullpen to the starting rotation in 2024, didn’t really expect to be named the Opening Day starter for the March 28 game at home against the Tigers when that information was delivered by Katz.

“Very shocked, to say the least,” said Crochet after manager Pedro Grifol officially tabbed him as the starter Monday. “I thought it was just that I made the rotation. But for this to happen, I don’t want to say unexpected, because I knew I was putting together a good string of outings. But very humbling.”

“You come in with that curiosity that you have a big-time arm coming into the starting fold,” said Grifol of choosing Crochet. “You’re curious to see how it’s going to pan out. He went out there and performed, pounded the strike zone. His stuff was electric and he’s going to get the opportunity.”

Back in February, Dylan Cease was in line for his second straight Opening Day start, and Crochet was far from a lock to even break camp as part of the starting rotation. Some thought Crochet’s starting quest had to begin at Triple-A Charlotte to build up innings.

Cease was traded on March 13 to San Diego for four players, including Drew Thorpe, who became the White Sox No. 3 prospect and started against the Guardians in Cactus League action on Monday. And Crochet, quite frankly, was one of the most dominant pitchers in the Cactus League.

Through nine scoreless innings, the southpaw has fanned 12, not issued a walk and allowed seven hits. He has regularly topped out at 98-100 mph with his fastball, and has shown great location with all of his pitches.

Now, at 24, Crochet becomes the ninth pitcher in the last 110 years to make his first career start on Opening Day. It was a quest that began at the end of the 2023 season, when Crochet spoke to the media about his desire to start, not wanting to pass up this opportunity and wonder what it could have been.

That first pitch against the Tigers on March 28 will mark the first step in what the White Sox hope is a long journey at the top of their rotation, and Crochet’s first regular-season start since making 13 for Tennessee from 2018-20.

“He’s really excited. Who wouldn’t be?" Grifol said. “It’s Opening Day. There’s only 30 of those guys going around.”

“We have a good group of arms,” Crochet said. “To be able to lead the charge into the season, it’s very humbling and I’m very excited to do it.”

Erick Fedde and Michael Soroka were Opening Day candidates as well, with Fedde joining the White Sox as a free agent via a two-year, $15 million deal and Soroka coming from Atlanta as part of a 5-for-1 trade for reliever Aaron Bummer. Michael Kopech would have been in the mix, but the right-hander has been moved to the bullpen and could emerge as the White Sox closer.

The opening show at Guaranteed Rate Field belongs to Crochet, who called getting the news from Katz “really special.” Crochet was quizzed on Monday as to how many innings could be expected from him on Day 1, and kind of hesitated when five was mentioned as a possibility.

“Yeah, I think so,” said a smiling Crochet. “Keep pushing me.”

Workload will be a season-long focus for Crochet, who has thrown 73 career innings in the regular season out of the bullpen in parts of three seasons, peaking with the 54 1/3 innings he had in ‘21. Crochet also believes he’ll respond better physically from the every fifth day starting pitcher routine.

“It gives you a chance to monitor the workload,” Crochet said. “When there’s a chance you could throw every day, you have to keep your body in a different kind of shape.

“Right now, I know that [I will be resting for four days after my starts], and I can kind of do as I need, listen to my arm, listen to my body and not really push it. I feel like that puts me in a good spot.”

Grifol watched Crochet throw 12 2/3 innings in ‘23 during his return from Tommy John surgery, but he remembers the talented bullpen force on display in ‘21 that he watched from the Royals side when he was their bench coach. He’s seen even a different focus from Crochet, the starter, during Spring Training.

“This is a much-refined Garrett Crochet,” Grifol said. “He’s got now the velo, the presence, the command, the stamina, the work, the mindset. I remember last year, he had that presence and mindset, but the stuff wasn’t like it is right now.

“It’s been just a process for him. He’s morphed those two together, and he’s getting an opportunity right now.”