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It’s safe to say that Chicago White Sox pitcher Garrett Crochet’s transition from bullpen arm to starting pitcher is going pretty well.
On Saturday, Crochet etched his name into the record books with a 10-strikeout game against the Cincinnati Reds. The outing gave him 31 strikeouts on the year, the most in White Sox history by a pitcher in their first four career starts.
Crochet is only the third pitcher since 1901 to strike out 30 or more batters and allow fewer than five walks in their first four career starts. He joins Masahiro Tanaka (2014) and Felix Hernandez (2005).
On March 28 against the Detroit Tigers, Crochet became only the ninth pitcher since 1914 to make their first career start on Opening Day. Crochet has adjusted to starting remarkably well considering he doesn’t have a ton of experience doing it. He did make 13 starts in college while at Tennessee but has operated as a reliever since making his Major League debut in 2020, even finishing 18 games.
Over his first three starts, Crochet was lights out, allowing only four earned runs over 18.0 innings, striking out 21 while walking only one. Saturday was arguably his worst start of the young season, even if it was due to only one bad inning. Crochet allowed a five-run second inning, which proved to be the difference in a loss to the Reds.
While Crochet has flashed impressive potential taking the ball every fifth day, results in the win/loss column have yet to fall into place. Saturday’s loss dropped him to 1-2 on the season and the White Sox are just 1-3 in his four starts.
Crochet will get a chance to rebound in his next scheduled start, April 17, against the Kansas City Royals.
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