FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Unlike many of the top-tier aces around baseball, Garrett Crochet decided on his own that pitching in the World Baseball Classic didn’t make sense for him this time around.
His reasons were sound, and he laid it out clearly to Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow and manager Alex Cora before his candidacy for Team USA even became a debate.
The combination of coming off a career-high workload last season, having a daughter in the offseason and having a goal of pitching in an even bigger showcase later this season made the decision a no-brainer for Boston’s dominant lefty, who finished second in American League Cy Young Award voting in 2025.
“Having a daughter was part of it, but it was just like, I want to have a normal Spring Training coming off the highest workload I've ever had,” said Crochet. “I don't want to get going too early when the plan is to pitch until November.”
Game 7 of the World Series likely will be played on Oct. 31, barring weather issues. But you get the idea of what Crochet is thinking calendar-wise.
If things go as Crochet and the Red Sox hope, he could be part of a parade in November.
While Crochet might well have a different stance when the next WBC comes along in four years, he was firm in his decision this time. So much so that he isn’t experiencing any FOMO.
“I haven't really been watching, to be honest,” Crochet said. “I'll watch it when it is on in the clubhouse, but I’m not really worried about it. I told Brez and AC that I wasn't going to do it. So from the moment I said that, I didn’t really [think about it] anymore.”
Instead, he is focused on all the steps necessary to be in top form for his Opening Day assignment on March 26 in Cincinnati, as well as enjoying all those moments with his daughter when he gets home from the ballpark.
Unlike last spring, when Crochet came out firing heaters in the upper 90s in his first live batting practice, he is pacing himself with the long haul in mind.
In his third Grapefruit League start of Spring Training in Monday's 5-3 win against the Phillies, Crochet topped out at 96 mph with his fastball while averaging 94.9 mph.
“I know the velocity will come, especially as we're building up at this time. So there's going to be ebbs and flows to that,” said Crochet. “Across the course of the season, there will be as well. So for me right now, it's just kind of hitting checkpoints in my delivery.”
Last year, Crochet didn’t talk in such a measured way about his process.
“I think last year he came in throwing 100 right away to let everyone know, ‘I’m here, I’m the guy.’” said Cora.
In hindsight, Crochet probably realizes now he didn’t need to do that.
But he in fact did turn out to be “the guy,” producing a stellar season that included an 18-5 record, a 2.59 ERA, 255 strikeouts and a start so dominant in Game 1 of the AL Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium that it might have been remembered for years had Boston defeated its rival instead of falling in the Game 3 rubber match.
Last year was a chance for the Red Sox to get back into the postseason after a three-year absence. It was an opportunity for Crochet to test himself on a big stage.
This year, both sides want more.
Now that he is established, Crochet is finding himself process-oriented than ever this spring. He wasn’t consumed by giving up three runs in 4 2/3 innings on Monday. Instead, he focused on the fact that most of the contact against him was soft.
Crochet will make two more starts before the bell rings in Cincinnati in 2 1/2 weeks.
“For me, it’s just competing,” said Crochet. “I’m looking forward to the next two [starts], but really looking forward to the season.”