It’s Crochet Day: New Red Sox lefty makes spring debut, Jarren Duran out with sore calf, Bregman starts at third base
New Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet will make his spring training debut on Sunday afternoon against the Blue Jays at JetBlue Park.
Crochet has been impressive since arriving at camp, including this past week when he threw bullpens, dialing up his fastball to 98 mph.
Crochet made 32 starts with the White Sox and posted a 3.58 ERA (58 ER/146.0 IP) with 209 strikeouts in 2024. He recorded the fifth-highest single-season average of strikeouts per 9.0 innings in Major League history (min. 30 starts), behind only Gerrit Cole.
The 25-year-old was acquired from Chicago on Dec. 11 for four prospects, including catcher Kyle Teel and outfielder Braden Montgomery.
Jarren Duran was scratched from the lineup due to a sore calf.
“He should be OK during the week,” manager Alex Cora said to reporters on Sunday morning. “Came in sore (today),” Cora added.
Duran was initially penciled into the top of the lineup and was going to play left field. Top prospect Roman Anthony will replace him and play left field and lead off.
Alex Bregman will also make his Red Sox spring training debut and will bat second and play third base.
What went well on Saturday?
The Red Sox defeated the Rays 6-4 to kick off their Grapefruit League schedule.
Quinn Priester started and allowed two hits and one run in two innings of work.
Five Red Sox pitchers worked scoreless appearances: Luis Guerrero (1.0 IP, BB, 3 K), Michael Fulmer (1.2 IP, 3 H, BB, K), Jose Adames (0.1 IP, K, HB), Robert Stock (1.0 IP), and Shane Drohan (2.0, 3 K).
Key stats, information and Red Sox lineup
The Red Sox officially announced the signing of left-handed reliever Matt Moore to a minor league deal. He will be invited to big league camp and will compete for a spot in the bullpen. Moore will wear the No. 56 while with Boston.
Brayan Bello has been dealing with a sore shoulder since coming to camp. The righty is throwing from 90 feet and will undergo a strength test on Sunday.
“We’ll see how he feels tomorrow, how that goes,” Cora said.
Catcher Connor Wong is dealing with a sore throwing shoulder; the injury is not considered serious. He is expected to play on Monday when the Red Sox play the Yankees at Fenway South.
“He felt it yesterday, but it’s nothing serious,” Cora said. “We’ve just gotta play it smart with him and Jarren, too. That’s why they are not playing today.”
Lucas Giolito will throw a live batting practice on Monday.
Red Sox pitching prospects Matt Duffy and Cole Tolbert have UCL tears and will have Tommy John surgery on March 5th, per Beyond the Monster’s Andrew Parker.
Red Sox (1-0) lineup vs. the Blue Jays (1-0)
Roman Anthony LF
Alex Bregman 3B
Triston Casas 1B
Trevor Story SS
Rob Refsnyder DH
David Hamilton 2B
Ceddanne Rafaela CF
Blake Sabol C
Nick Eaton RF
SP: Garrett Crochet (2024: 6-12, 3.58 ERA, 2.69 FIP with White Sox)
The first pitch is at 1:05 p.m. and can be seen on WHDH, NESN 360 and it can be heard on WEEI 93.7 FM.
