Red Sox's Garrett Crochet Touches 97.4 MPH In Spring Training Debut

The left-handed ace made his spring debut against the Rays.

Feb. 26, 2026 at 7:05pm

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Boston Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet made his Spring Training debut on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Rays. Crochet allowed one hit and one walk across two innings of work, throwing 23 pitches and 14 strikes. His fastball topped out at 97.4 MPH.

Why it matters

Crochet delivered a dominant 2025 season in his first year with the Red Sox after arriving via trade from the Chicago White Sox. The left-hander is slated to be the Red Sox Opening Day starter, cementing his place among the game's top arms.

The details

Crochet went 18-5 with a 2.59 ERA in 32 starts, covering 205.1 innings while leading the American League with 255 strikeouts and pacing the circuit in innings pitched. He finished with a 1.03 WHIP, made the All-Star team, and placed second in AL Cy Young voting. Crochet also made his postseason debut in the AL Wild Card Series, throwing 7 2/3 innings of one-run ball with 11 strikeouts and zero walks in Game 1 against the New York Yankees.

  • Crochet made his Spring Training debut on Thursday, February 26, 2026.
  • Crochet agreed to a six-year, $170 million extension with Boston in March 2025 that runs through 2031 and includes an opt-out after 2030.

The players

Garrett Crochet

A 26-year-old left-handed pitcher for the Boston Red Sox. He was acquired by the Red Sox via trade from the Chicago White Sox and is slated to be the team's Opening Day starter.

Tampa Bay Rays

The opposing team that Crochet faced in his Spring Training debut.

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What’s next

Crochet is slated to be the Red Sox Opening Day starter, cementing his place among the game's top arms.

The takeaway

Crochet's impressive Spring Training debut, featuring a fastball that topped out at 97.4 MPH, is a promising sign for the Red Sox as they look to build on his dominant 2025 season and cement his status as one of the game's elite pitchers.