Garrett Crochet

Summary

Garrett Nolan Crochet (born June 21, 1999) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB).

Garrett Crochet
Crochet pitching for Tennessee in 2019
Chicago White Sox – No. 45
Pitcher
Born: (1999-06-21) June 21, 1999 (age 24)
Ocean Springs, Mississippi, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
MLB debut
September 18, 2020, for the Chicago White Sox
MLB statistics
(through April 13, 2024)
Win–loss record4–9
Earned run average2.92
Strikeouts116
Teams

The White Sox selected Crochet with the 11th overall selection of the 2020 MLB draft out of the University of Tennessee. Crochet was called up in September by the White Sox to become the first MLB player in six years to reach the big leagues in the same year in which he was drafted.[1][2]

Amateur career edit

Crochet grew up in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, and attended Ocean Springs High School. During his junior season, he posted a 3–0 win–loss record with a 0.51 earned run average (ERA) and 25 strikeouts in 27+23 innings pitched. Following the season, Crochet initially committed to play college baseball at Jones County Junior College.[3] As a senior, he went 6–4 with a 1.48 ERA and 76 strikeouts to draw late recruiting interest from many top collegiate programs, including Texas and Tennessee.[4][5] Crochet was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 34th round of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft, but chose not to sign and instead enrolled at Tennessee.[6][7]

As a true freshman at Tennessee in 2018, Crochet appeared in 17 games with 11 starts, posting a 5–6 record with a 5.51 ERA and 62 strikeouts.[8] In 2019, his sophomore year, he went 5–3 with a 4.02 ERA over 18 appearances (six starts), missing the SEC Tournament after suffering a broken jaw in his last regular season start.[9][10] After the season Crochet was invited to training camp for the United States Collegiate National Baseball Team,[11][12] and entered his junior season as a first team preseason All-American by Baseball America and on the watch list for the Golden Spikes Award.[13][14][15] Crochet missed the first three weeks of the season due to arm soreness,[16] then appeared in one game before the college baseball season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Professional career edit

The White Sox selected Crochet in the first round, with the 11th overall selection, in the 2020 Major League Baseball draft,[17] and he signed a contract on June 22, 2020, that included a $4,547,500 bonus.[18]

On September 18, 2020, Crochet became the first player from the 2020 MLB Draft class to be promoted to the major leagues. He is the 22nd player to go straight from the draft to the majors without playing in the minor leagues, and the first since Mike Leake in 2010 and was the first player to be promoted in their draft year since Brandon Finnegan in 2014.[19] With the 2020 Chicago White Sox, Crochet appeared in five games, not allowing a run in six innings pitched while consistently throwing 100 miles per hour (160 km/h).[20][21] He came out of the bullpen to strike out both batters he faced in Chicago's 6–4 loss to the Oakland Athletics in the decisive Game 3 of the 2020 American League Wild Card Series before leaving with forearm tightness.[22] Crochet had his first full season in 2021, when he recorded a 2.82 ERA with 65 strikeouts in 54+13 innings. Crochet would miss the entire 2022 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery on April 2.[23]

In 2023, Crochet made his return from surgery, pitching in 13 contests and recording a 3.55 ERA with 12 strikeouts across 12+23 innings pitched.[24]

On March 18, 2024, Crochet was named the White Sox's Opening Day starting pitcher.[25]

References edit

  1. ^ "2020 Prospect Watch: 100 Draft". MLB Prospect Watch. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  2. ^ "MLB Draft Tracker". MLB.com. Retrieved 2020-06-10.
  3. ^ Ochs, Patrick (December 12, 2016). "Ocean Springs honors college-bound athletes". Sun Herald. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
  4. ^ Clay, Patrick (June 14, 2017). "Ocean Springs LHP Garrett Crochet selected by Brewers in MLB Draft". WLOX.com. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
  5. ^ "Ocean Springs' Garrett Crochet to pitch on Fridays for Tennessee". Sun Herald. March 16, 2018. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
  6. ^ "Ocean Springs' Garrett Crochet selected by Milwaukee Brewers". Sun Herald. June 14, 2017. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
  7. ^ Haeger, Jeff (June 15, 2017). "Ocean Springs' Garrett Crochet Weighs Pro Career VS. College". WXXV25.com. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
  8. ^ Zielinski, Dan (January 28, 2020). "Garrett Crochet has refined skills at Tennessee". BaseballProspectJournal.com. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
  9. ^ "Alerick Soularie, Garrett Crochet garner preseason All-American honors". The Daily Times. January 7, 2020. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
  10. ^ Lay, Ken (June 26, 2019). "Garrett Crochet to try out for Team USA". Vols Wire. USA Today. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
  11. ^ Rucker, Wes (June 18, 2019). "Vols' Crochet invited to USA Baseball CNT training camp". 247Sports.com. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
  12. ^ Harrelson, Dan (June 17, 2019). "Garrett Crochet invited to USA Baseball Collegiate National Team training camp". Vols Wire. USA Today. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
  13. ^ Callis, Jim (August 22, 2019). "These are the best college 2020 Draft prospects". MLB.com. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
  14. ^ "Crochet & Soularie Tabbed as Preseason All-Americans by Baseball America". NewsTalk987.com. January 27, 2020. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
  15. ^ Rucker, Wes (February 13, 2020). "BASEBALL: Vols duo named to Golden Spikes Award watch list". 247Sports.com. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
  16. ^ Rucker, Wes (March 7, 2020). "BASEBALL: No. 11 Vols beat Wright State in Crochet's return". 247Sports.com. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  17. ^ Fegan, James (June 10, 2020). "Could Garrett Crochet be the next Chris Sale for the White Sox?". The Athletic. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  18. ^ "Chicago White Sox announce deal with 1st-round draft pick Garrett Crochet". ESPN.com. Associated Press. June 22, 2020. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  19. ^ "White Sox Promote Garrett Crochet".
  20. ^ Langs, Sarah. "Garrett 2nd in 100mph pitches". mlb.com. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  21. ^ "Garrett Crochet Stats, Fantasy & News".
  22. ^ Merkin, Scott. "White Sox lose to A's eliminated from postseason". mlb.com. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  23. ^ "White Sox Announce Major Surgery for 2020 First Rounder Garrett Crochet". Retrieved April 2, 2022.
  24. ^ "White Sox's Garrett Crochet: Preparing to start in 2024". cbssports.com. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  25. ^ "White Sox's Garrett Crochet to make 1st start on Opening Day". ESPN.com. Associated Press. March 18, 2024. Retrieved March 18, 2024.

External links edit

  • Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
  • Tennessee Volunteers bio