Boston Red Sox Pitcher Garrett Crochet Diagnosed With Low-Grade Lat Strain

A Complicated Recovery Timeline for Crochet

The path back to the mound has proven more arduous than initially anticipated for Garrett Crochet. After being placed on the 15-day injured list on April 26 due to left shoulder inflammation, the two-time All-Star had been working toward a return that many within the organization hoped would stabilize a rotation currently navigating a period of significant attrition. However, the plan to have the left-hander throw his second live batting practice session this past Tuesday was scrapped after he reported left lat tightness. According to reporting from MLB.com, the discomfort emerged in the days following a live bullpen session. While the team initially hoped the symptoms were merely soreness, the persistence of the issue necessitated further medical evaluation. Crochet is now scheduled to undergo imaging to assess the full scope of the lat strain. “I’m going to get some imaging on it just to confirm we got the full picture, but it feels like a very minor setback. It doesn’t even feel fair to call it a setback because I don’t think it deserves that title. I won’t be making the live bullpen on Tuesday and just trying to make sure that when I return to play, I’m there for the rest of the year.”Garrett Crochet, Boston Red Sox pitcher, via MLB.com

Rotation Depth and the 60-Day IL Possibility

The diagnosis of a low-grade lat strain, as detailed by MLB Trade Rumors, offers a glimmer of hope that the injury is not structural in a way that would end his season. However, the immediate consequence is a longer stay on the injured list. Interim manager Chad Tracy indicated that Crochet will resume a throwing program only once he is asymptomatic, leaving his return date in flux. The Red Sox are currently managing a depleted pitching staff, with five starters—Tanner Houck, Kutter Crawford, Patrick Sandoval, Johan Oviedo, and Crochet—all appearing on the injured list. As the team considers its options, Crochet remains a candidate for a transfer to the 60-day injured list if the club requires additional flexibility on the 40-man roster. Given that 38 days have already elapsed since his initial placement on the IL, such a move would be retroactive to April 26. The broader rotation has faced its own hurdles. While the team has seen consistent contributions from Sonny Gray and Ranger Suarez, and impressive ERAs under 2.65 from Connelly Early and Peyton Tolle, the absence of Crochet remains a significant blow to the team’s ceiling. Tracy maintains a pragmatic view of the situation, emphasizing the need for the active roster to continue producing. “We’ve got to go out and win games, and we have guys in our rotation who have done a great job and are capable. We want him back, obviously. That’s disappointing, but in our mind we’ve just got to keep going.”Chad Tracy, Boston Red Sox interim manager, via MLB.com

Broader Injury Concerns Across the Roster

The setback for Crochet is part of a wider trend of health issues impacting the Red Sox as they enter June. As The New York Times reported, outfielder Roman Anthony was also shut down for a “handful of days” following discomfort in his sprained right ring finger, while position players Ceddanne Rafaela and Willson Contreras have dealt with lower back and elbow issues, respectively. For Crochet, who led baseball with 255 strikeouts in 2024, the frustration is compounded by the contrast between his current recovery and his previous success. Having missed the entire 2022 season and parts of 2023 due to Tommy John surgery, the 26-year-old is hyper-aware of the physical toll of his profession. According to NESN, Crochet expressed a deep desire to regain his previous form rather than simply returning to the mound at less than full capacity. “Right now I’m just trying to get back to being the version of myself that I know I can be and the version of myself that was there before the injury. For me, it goes a little bit deeper than my shoulder and lat, I’m trying to use this time to get everything right just to be the best version of myself.”Garrett Crochet, Boston Red Sox pitcher, via MLB.com As the Red Sox face a critical stretch of the schedule—including four of the next five series against AL East opponents—the team will have to rely on its depth. With the front office and medical staff proceeding with extreme caution, Crochet’s focus remains on long-term health, aiming to ensure that when he does eventually rejoin the active rotation, he is prepared to contribute for the remainder of the season.