Boston Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet’s quest for a Cy Young Award received a boost in the latest starting pitcher power rankings. MLB.com’s Andrew Simon pegged Crochet at No. 7 in the majors, up one spot from the previous ranking.
“This is why Boston gave up a prospect haul to acquire Crochet from the White Sox over the offseason,” Simon wrote Thursday. “One year after making a successful transition to the starting rotation in Chicago, the 6-foot-6 lefty with a 2.26 ERA now leads the Majors in innings (115 1/3) and strikeouts (144).
“He ranks third in K’s on each of three different pitch types: four-seam fastballs (57), sweepers (46) and cutters (31),” Simon added.
As for who is sitting ahead for Crochet, here is MLB.com’s top seven:
- Tarik Skubal, Tigers
- Zack Wheeler, Phillies
- Hunter Brown, Astros
- Paul Skenes, Pirates
- Max Fried, Yankees
- Framber Valdez, Astros
Based on that ranking, Crochet is running fifth in the American League among starting pitchers. The 26-year-old southpaw has already set a career high with eight wins and is on pace for personal bests in ERA and WAR.
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The last Red Sox pitcher to win the Cy Young Award was right-hander Rick Porcello in 2016.
Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez easily took home the award in 1999 and 2000.
Long-time Red Sox ace Roger Clemens won three Cy Young Awards in Boston (1986, 1987 and 1991).
Right-hander Jim Lonborg was the first Red Sox pitcher to win the Cy Young Award, claiming it in 1967 as part of Boston’s “Impossible Dream.”
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Of course, the award is named after former Boston pitcher Cy Young, who earned 192 of his MLB-record 512 wins while pitching in Beantown from 1901 to 1908.
Crochet will return to the mound on Sunday in Washington for the finale of a three-game series with the Nationals.
