CHICAGO ¨C Before it truly took root, Garrett Crochet basically spoke into existence his high-level mound performance as a first-time Major League starting pitcher, leading the White Sox left-hander to claim this year's American League Comeback Player of the Year Award.

It began at the end of the 2023 season, when Crochet returned from extended rehab following Tommy John surgery that cost him the ¡¯22 season. He posted a 3.55 ERA with 12 strikeouts and 13 walks over 13 games and 12 2/3 innings that year, then spoke to the media at season¡¯s end about wanting to have a real chance to join the rotation despite having thrown only 73 big league innings covering 72 relief appearances in his three-year career.

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That conversation took on greater meaning with White Sox general manager Chris Getz last offseason, and the move was greenlit. A great deal of hard-working hours followed, leading to Crochet¡¯s first career start on Opening Day at home against the Tigers on March 28, as well as his first career All-Star appearance. In the process, he emerged as one of baseball¡¯s best stories.

Crochet finished with a 3.58 ERA over 32 starts to go with 209 strikeouts against 33 walks over 146 innings. The 25-year-old arguably was baseball¡¯s most dominant starter at the All-Star break, with a 3.02 ERA and 150 strikeouts over 107 1/3 innings.

Crochet's second-half statistics weren¡¯t as overwhelming, but the White Sox understandably limited the innings of a young hurler whose previous single-season high was 54 1/3 in 2021. Crochet didn¡¯t surpass four innings or 77 pitches in the second half and didn¡¯t go above 62 pitches during any of his five September starts.

But the job had been accomplished. The goals were far surpassed.

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¡°I feel really good,¡± said Crochet after his final start at Comerica Park on Sept. 27. ¡°Granted, I was on a pitch count these past couple of months, but I feel like I¡¯ve been getting stronger.

¡°I¡¯m feeling good. Just pitching this deep into the year, the innings are a big factor, but so is throwing every fifth day for six months. That was kind of the big part for me.¡±

There¡¯s no question Crochet has the raw stuff to be a top-of-the-rotation presence. According to Statcast, Crochet averaged 97.2 mph on his 1,287 four-seam fastballs thrown. He incorporated a new cutter into the repertoire, while bringing the sinker back into action in devastating fashion later in the season. Crochet also possesses the leadership and competitive fire befitting an ace.

Now, the question is where Crochet might be honing his craft in 2025. The White Sox have two years of arbitration control over Crochet, but with the team setting a single-season, Modern Era record (since 1901) with 121 losses in ¡¯24, it could improve its long-term outlook by trading Crochet.

Many teams showed interest in Crochet near the ¡¯24 Trade Deadline, and according to Getz, the market for Crochet has understandably increased in the offseason. The White Sox aren't expected to be prime playoff contenders over the next two years, and barring a contract extension, they wouldn¡¯t have Crochet for their planned playoff push to follow.

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It¡¯s similar to the scenario that unfolded for the White Sox with Chris Sale in the 2016-17 offseason, when the ace left-hander was dealt to the Red Sox for a four-player return, including Yoan Moncada and Michael Kopech, to begin the organization¡¯s most recent rebuild. Crochet often draws comparisons to Sale based on their dominance and presence from the left side of the mound.

¡°I like the pieces that we have,¡± Crochet said of the current rebuild in an interview during the final week of September. ¡°I like the relationships I¡¯ve developed with this [pitching] staff.

¡°I¡¯ve got a lot of trust in Getz, and I think so does everybody in our clubhouse. It¡¯s now just a matter of letting our young guys develop and continuing to get reps.¡±