Once again, Garrett Crochet donned a full Red Sox uniform, made the walk from the bullpen to the mound, and pitched at Fenway Park on Tuesday afternoon. This time, he faced a live hitter — in the form of Ceddanne Rafaela — as he took another step toward returning to the mound for Boston.
And for the first time in what’s been a long recovery period, the 27-year-old said he feels ready to contribute.
“I would say, the way that that live [batting practice] just went, that I could go get outs,” Crochet told reporters inside the Red Sox clubhouse.
That being said, Crochet shared that he has some hesitance to joining the roster, though it has nothing to do with his own health.
“This team’s had a great year. I think that for me to take a spot on the roster, then someone would have to lose one. And I would feel bad doing that, because this team has pitched their ass off the whole season,” Crochet said. “Ultimately, that’s something that’s gonna be up to the front office. And whenever they gauge that I’m ready, then I’ll accept that. In the meantime, I’m just gonna keep working my butt off.”
Crochet’s work on Tuesday involved 16 pitches, and he estimated he was sitting at 94-96 mph on his fastball velocity. The left-hander said how well he recovers on Wednesday will be a significant determinant on his ability to pitch in games. Yet when asked if he’ll pitch in a regular-season game this weekend or save his return for the postseason, he is leaving that decision to chief baseball officer Craig Breslow and manager Chad Tracy.
“I think that I’m just gonna do whatever they tell me to do, to be honest,” he said. “I think that [live BPs] and games, obviously it’s a big step up and the pressure of the moment, I suppose, and the intensity. But I don’t think that there’s a set amount of [live BPs] that need to be thrown before a game.”
Tracy, who officially dropped the interim tag earlier in the day, said that whatever decision is made on Crochet, it will be “done with Garrett’s best interests in mind.”
“Looking at what is he able to accomplish this week, and what does the playoffs require?” Tracy explained. “And then deciding can he fit that role or not based on what he’s done.”
Ceddanne Rafaela
Rafaela, who hasn’t played since Sept. 2 due to a hamstring injury, partook in the live BP with Crochet as he nears a return to the lineup.
“Much better,” Tracy said on Rafaela. “Getting close there.”
Rafaela has produced the best offensive season of his career, as he’s batted .282 with a .760 OPS in 135 games, while continuing to provide Gold Glove-level defense in center field.
Willson Contreras
Tracy also shared a positive injury update on Willson Contreras, who continues to improve after taking a pitch off his right hand last Thursday.
Tracy said that Contreras is “doing much better” and is “swinging aggressively” as he works his way back to full strength.
Aroldis Chapman
Closer Aroldis Chapman hasn’t pitched since Sept. 13 due to some lat tightness, but Tracy had yet another positive injury update.
“He’s getting very close,” Tracy said. “I think we’re a day or two away from him being ready to roll.”
Group staying ready in Fort Myers
The Red Sox are keeping a team of reinforcements ready in Fort Myers for the playoff run, in case anybody is needed as an injury replacement along the way. That list of players includes:
- SP Tanner Houck
- SP Johan Oviedo
- SS/2B Franklin Arias
- OF Braiden Ward
- RP Wyatt Olds
- SS/2B Tsung-Che Cheng
- RP Tyler Samaniego
- 1B/2B Romy Gonzalez
- RP Jedixson Paez
Curtis Mead
Perhaps the lone negative injury update from Tracy was on second baseman Curtis Mead, who broke his wrist in his first game with the Red Sox on July 27.
“Haven’t ruled it out yet. It’s gonna be tough,” Tracy said when asked if Mead might be able to return for the first round of the playoffs.
Tracy said that Mead is taking some overhand batting practice, but there may not be enough time for Mead to progress to being game-ready.
“I said we would probably be a little aggressive to see how the hand responds,” Tracy said. “Have not ruled it out. It’s just we’re getting up against it a bit.”
