Crochet throws off mound for 1st time since injury; Houck, Oviedo progressing well

BALTIMORE -- At a time of year when the attrition of pitching hits most teams, the Red Sox are fortunate enough to have a couple of key arms in Garrett Crochet and Tanner Houck working toward a possible return to action later this month.

Crochet, who opened the season as Boston’s ace after finishing second for the AL Cy Young Award last season, made just six starts this year before going down with a case of left shoulder inflammation that turned out to be much worse than expected.

The good news is that Crochet has made strong progress in the last few weeks, which led to a Friday side session of 16 pitches, marking the first time he pitched off the mound in over three months.

Houck, who underwent Tommy John surgery 13 months ago, is a little ahead of Crochet, and will likely throw an inning for Double-A Portland to begin his Minor League rehab assignment on Tuesday. Crochet should also throw a second side session that same day.

Both pitchers don’t have time to stretch back out as starters for this season, but both could be factors for the Sox out of the bullpen later in September and into the postseason.

Crochet was a reliever in college at the University of Tennessee and in his first few seasons with the White Sox before becoming a starter in ‘24, so the role would not be unfamiliar for him.

Before establishing himself as a full-time starting pitcher in 2023 and an All-Star in ‘24, Houck was a swingman in ‘21 and ‘22, compiling 33 relief appearances over those two seasons.

While it once seemed questionable -- perhaps even doubtful -- that Crochet would pitch again this season, his progress in recent weeks has made it more realistic.

“The fact that he got on the mound today and threw is a really, really good sign,” said Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy. “See how he comes in tomorrow will be an important piece of it. When he comes in tomorrow, does he feel anything, any lingering effects that are going to slow down or does he feel really good? And then you can proceed.

“But I think the fact that all the work he's put in, the fact that he got off the mound today and threw a bullpen is a really, really good sign. And I know that doesn't necessarily answer the question [if he will be back]. It's hard to say at this point, but I think the fact that he's throwing sides right now, the goal is to get him out there before the end of the season if we can, but we got more boxes to check.”

And don’t rule out forgotten man Johan Oviedo, either. The righty, acquired from the Pirates in December and part of the competition to be the fifth starter in Spring Training, has been on the injured list since March 31 with a right flexor strain.

“Oviedo also threw today [against hitters], and I think he'd be scheduled for another side on Tuesday,” Tracy said. “And then looking towards the end of next week, if everything goes well with him, he could potentially do a rehab game or something like that. All those guys threw and are trending well.”

And that is encouraging. Recently, the Red Sox got two key pieces of the offense back after extended absences in Roman Anthony and Trevor Story.

“At this part of the schedule, you just don't know what's going to happen,” said Tracy. “So having guys on the pitching side trickling towards health is important too.”