CHICAGO -- There wasn’t much noticeably different about Garrett Crochet when he met with the media prior to an 11-1 White Sox victory Friday at Rate Field.
Yes, he’s now better compensated overall after agreeing to a six-year, $170 million extension with the Red Sox. And of course, he was holding court in the visitors' dugout as opposed to being on the more familiar home side as a member of the White Sox since he was selected 11th overall in the 2020 Draft.
Otherwise, the left-hander was the same. Engaging, thoughtful and direct while pulling no punches. Need an example?
Crochet was asked about some part of him hoping the White Sox return for his trade works out well. And the left-hander’s response?
"Not really, no,” Crochet said. “If it does, cool. If it doesn't, cool. I'm just hoping to keep stacking starts and make sure it works out for Boston."
The White Sox sent Crochet to the Red Sox in exchange for catcher Kyle Teel, outfielder Braden Montgomery, infielder Chase Meidroth and right-hander Wikelman Gonzalez on the last day of the 2024 Winter Meetings. The White Sox didn’t make a push that got off the ground to extend the 25-year-old, as Crochet told MLB.com after the trade and reiterated Friday, and he quickly moved on to the Red Sox.
There certainly was an appreciation for his time spent with the White Sox. Crochet reached the Majors in ’20 a little over two months after he was drafted, and general manager Chris Getz, pitching coach Ethan Katz and many others strongly supported Crochet in his desire to become a starter last season after just 73 innings over his career as a reliever.
Prior to Saturday’s contest, Crochet was talking with Katz and White Sox hurlers Jonathan Cannon and Davis Martin behind home plate during batting practice, marking two of the pitchers who Crochet had a profound impact upon. But as Boston manager Alex Cora and some of his new teammates called and welcomed Crochet right after the deal, he was ready to move forward.
“Last year, with the White Sox, we weren’t expecting to make the playoffs,” Crochet said. “Everyone in the locker room was hoping to make the roster. This year we have bigger aspirations. The sense of urgency was greater in camp. The sense of veteran presence to your left and right wherever you were in the clubhouse was pretty huge. And just guys that have been there before.
“We went out and got [Alex] Bregman, Raffy [Devers] has won a World Series. [Walker] Buehler has won a World Series. It felt like it was the big leagues … Our playoff run [in Chicago] was four years ago, so for me, it was not very hard to move on, honestly. Especially with going to the Red Sox, such a historic franchise. I was excited and I still am for what this team could accomplish this season.”
That excitement will manifest in fully focused energy Sunday, when Crochet takes the mound in the series finale at Rate Field. Shane Smith, the top pick in the 2024 Rule 5 Draft, gets the call for the White Sox following two tremendous starts for his new team.
Many players who suited up behind Crochet will be trying to defeat him in his visiting debut.
“I know we are going to face him,” said Luis Robert Jr., through interpreter Billy Russo, when asked about Crochet in Friday’s pregame. “But I haven’t put too much thought on that because I need to get through today and then tomorrow and then we face him when we face him.”
“I'm chasing greatness every time I touch the mound,” Crochet said. “Everybody is. I want to throw a complete-game, no-hitter. And then as soon as the first hit's given up, I'm like, 'All right, let's move on.' But it's just seeing how many zeros I can put up every time I go out there."
All of Crochet’s zeros will be for the Red Sox, after putting up quite a few on the South Side of Chicago.
“In the business, unless you are [Paul] Konerko or [Jason] Varitek, you don’t really wear one color your entire career. I’m just happy to be a Red Sox,” Crochet said. “It’s good to be a Boston Red Sox.
“When my contract is all said and done. I’ll have spent a longer time in Boston than I did in Chicago which is crazy to think about but it’s cool. I feel like I’m just getting started.”