Red Sox’ Garrett Crochet explains why it was ‘not hard to move on’ from Chicago in return (2025)

CHICAGO — Returning to Rate Field for the first time as an opposing player, Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet made it clear that he’s not that sentimental about his return to the South Side of Chicago, and instead, is fully focused on dominating for Boston.

“For me, it was not very hard to move on, honestly,“ Crochet said, facing a large group of Chicago-based reporters in the visitor’s dugout. ”Especially with going to the Red Sox, such a storied franchise. I was excited, quite frankly, and I still am for what this team could accomplish this season."

Crochet, who Chicago took with the 11th overall pick in the 2020 draft, made the first 104 appearances of his big league career with the White Sox over parts of five seasons. And while he’s thankful to the organization that drafted and developed him, the reigning All-Star has felt at home in Boston since the moment the club sent four prospects to the White Sox in a blockbuster trade on December 11.

“It was great. I loved it,“ Crochet said of his White Sox tenure. ”The organization that drafts you, people say, typically treat you the best. So it was all I knew. But, being over here in Boston, the love has been the exact same."

Crochet emerged as a top-line starter in 2024 with the White Sox, who installed them in their rotation for the first time and reaped the benefits of a 32-start season in which Crochet recorded a 3.58 ERA and struck out 209 batters in 146 innings. But after a historically bad season in which the ChiSox went 41-121, it was clear Crochet would not be part of their future.

After shopping the left-hander at the trade deadline and throughout the early part of the season, the White Sox pulled the trigger on a Crochet trade during the Winter Meetings, with the Sox sending Kyle Teel, Braden Montgomery, Chase Meidroth (who is making his MLB debut Friday) and Wikelman Gonzalez to a rebuilding club. Crochet was immediately branded as Boston’s ace for a team that was expected to be competitive in 2025. In spring training, he immediately noticed the difference between the clubhouses.

“Last year, obviously, with the White Sox, we weren’t expecting to make the postseason and everyone in the locker room was hoping to make the roster,“ Crochet said. ”This year, we obviously have bigger aspirations and the the sense of urgency was great in camp. The sense of veteran presence to your left and right, wherever you were in the clubhouse was pretty huge ... It felt like it was the big leagues.”

Crochet cemented himself as a long-term piece of Boston’s future when he inked a six-year, $170 million extension with the club earlier this month, linking him to the Red Sox through at least the 2030 season. By the middle of last season, it became clear to Crochet that Chicago wouldn’t be his long-term home. He has one now.

“When my contract’s all said and done, I’ll have spent a longer time in Boston than I did Chicago, which is crazy to think about, but it’s cool,“ he said. ”I feel like I’m just getting started."

Crochet, who is off to a strong start (1.45 ERA through 3 starts) in his first season with the Red Sox, will get the chance to face his former team Sunday afternoon. Many of the faces have changed from the bulk of Crochet’s time in Chicago, but the challenge will still be something he has yet to experience in his career.

“I didn’t really make much of it coming back here,” he said. “Now that I’m here, it’s cool. But I’m still just trying to win a series, I’ve got a start here. So that’s really what I’m most focused on.

“I’m chasing greatness. Every time I touch the mound, I want to throw a complete game, no-hitter. And then as soon as the first hit is given up, I’m like, (expletive), alright, let’s move on. But it’s just how many zeros I can put up every time I go out there.”