The Boston Red Sox pitching staff has been hit hard by injuries this season, with as many as six starters landing on the injured list at one point. None of those absences has been more critical than that of Garrett Crochet, the 2025 Cy Young runner-up, who was placed on the 15-day IL with left shoulder inflammation on April 29. Now, just over two weeks later, the 26-year-old lefty has taken a significant step forward in his recovery.
On Tuesday night, ahead of Boston's 2-1 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies, Crochet was seen throwing on the field—a promising sight for a team desperate for healthy arms. Interim manager Chad Tracy had previously told reporters that Crochet had progressed to throwing out to 120 feet and had even played catch off a mound on Sunday. But the real milestone came Wednesday, when Crochet threw a 20-pitch bullpen session before Game 2 against the Phillies, according to MLB.com's Ian Browne. This marks the most encouraging step yet in the ace's return to a major league mound.
Crochet had initially expressed confidence that he would return after the minimum 15 days, but that timeline passed on Tuesday without an activation. While this latest bullpen session is a big leap forward, it suggests he still has some work to do before rejoining the rotation. The Red Sox will be cautious with their star pitcher, especially given his importance to the team's postseason hopes.
The 2026 season got off to a rocky start for Crochet, who posted a 6.30 ERA over 30 innings across six starts—including the worst outing of his career against the Minnesota Twins. However, his final start before the IL stint offered a glimpse of his dominant form: a six-inning shutout performance in Boston's 17-1 rout of the Baltimore Orioles, which also marked the end of the Alex Cora era. That outing showed exactly why the Red Sox invested so heavily in him.
As Crochet works his way back, Boston faces a tough decision with its rotation. Currently, the starting five features Ranger Suarez, Sonny Gray, and Payton, but when Crochet is ready, someone will have to make room. For now, though, the focus is on getting their ace healthy and back to the form that made him a Cy Young contender.