Monday night was one to forget for Boston Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet. Taking the mound against the Minnesota Twins, the left-hander endured a brutal outing that raised immediate concerns.

Crochet's start unraveled quickly, as he failed to escape the second inning. In just 1 2/3 innings of work, he was tagged for 11 total runs (10 earned) on nine hits, including two home runs, throwing only 55 pitches. This performance starkly contrasted his usual dominance and derailed Boston's bid for its first three-game winning streak of the season.

For context, this was statistically the worst start of Crochet's tenure with the Red Sox. The 2025 AL Cy Young contender, who posted a stellar 2.59 ERA over a league-leading 205.1 innings last season, had never been hit this hard in a Boston uniform. His previous low point was a seven-run, four-homer outing against Cleveland last September, but Monday's shellacking set a troubling new benchmark.

Every pitcher has an off-night, even the game's best. The true test for an ace isn't the bad start itself, but the response that follows. Over the coming days, all eyes will be on Crochet to see how he adjusts and rebounds. His ability to shake off this performance will be a key storyline for the Red Sox as they navigate the early season.