When the Red Sox announced that Kutter Crawford needed season-ending wrist surgery back in June, the club said the right-hander suffered an off-field accident but didn’t provide any details beyond that.
Speaking to reporters for the first time since undergoing surgery on Friday, Crawford shed light on the nature of his injury and how it occurred.
“Just doing some pretty standard maintenance around the house, I was just outside kind of moving some stuff and I when I went to move something it got hung up and it turned my wrist the other way and I felt a subtle pop,” Crawford said. “At that point I was like ‘ooh, that’s not great.’”
Crawford texted his trainer and subsequent testing revealed that he’d torn the stabilizing sheath of the extensor carpi ulnaris in his right wrist. The timing of the injury was particularly frustrating given that Crawford was finally nearing a return from the knee injury that had already cost him the first half of the season.
“It’s been tough, I was really close to starting a rehab assignment before I had this incident with the wrist, it was the day before my last live (batting practice) and I was supposed to start a rehab assignment,” Crawford said. “It’s been difficult, it’s been frustrating, I’m just trying to do everything I can to just prepare and get my body and my mind in the best spot possible for when I do take the mound again.”
Crawford said his wrist rehab is progressing well and he expects to be fully healthy in time for the start of spring training. He also said the patellar soreness that had plagued his right knee dating back to last season has also subsided, and he doesn’t anticipate that being an issue going forward.
“The knee is in a really good spot, I will say my knee feels better than it has in probably three or four years,” Crawford said. “So I’m very optimistic about that and hopefully we’ll have no issues next year with that.”
Last season Crawford enjoyed a breakout year in which he led the Red Sox in starts (33) and innings pitched (183.2) while posting a 4.36 ERA, and this year he was expected to compete for a spot again on an improved rotation that now featured newly acquired ace Garrett Crochet and a returning Lucas Giolito.
Thanks to the knee and wrist injuries that never happened, but this week Crawford is back in Boston to support his teammates and he’s looking forward to contributing in a meaningful way again next year.
“I take pride in being healthy and available and grabbing the ball every fifth day and competing to the best of my ability,” Crawford said. “And like I said, it’s been frustrating not being able to go out there and compete and go to battle with my teammates day in and day out.”
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