Garrett Crochet clarifies timeline for return, sets sights on after the All-Star break

Garrett Crochet, the Red Sox’s rotation cornerstone and one of their most dependable swing-and-miss arms, provided a clearer picture of his recovery timeline on Friday. After a shutdown lasting more than two weeks for a left lat strain, Crochet said he is “getting close to throwing,” a milestone that matters because throwing is usually the gateway to building workload toward a game return.

The key point in Crochet’s update is timing. While he acknowledged that he is moving toward activity, his remarks essentially left little expectation that he will be available to pitch during the first half’s final stretch before the All-Star break. For Boston, that puts a premium on how the staff absorbs the remaining weeks without their high-leverage starter and on how manager Alex Cora structures starts and bullpen usage in the interim.

Crochet’s lat issue is particularly relevant for a pitcher profile like his because the lat muscle plays a central role in generating power and stabilizing the delivery. A shutdown of this length indicates that Boston and Crochet are prioritizing avoiding a setback, even if it costs immediate rotation depth. The Red Sox’s process, according to the team’s official update, is aimed at returning when he can safely progress rather than rushing into a short-term cameo.

From a roster standpoint, Crochet’s absence reshapes the shape of Boston’s pitching plans. Even without additional confirmation of specific internal moves, losing a left-handed starter influences how many innings each remaining starter can be asked to cover and how long the bullpen might need to stay sharp on days when the rotation does not go deep. It also increases the importance of starters who can go multiple innings, since bullpen workload during late-June stretches can become difficult to manage.

Crochet’s return target also has a broader season implication. The period immediately after the All-Star break is when teams tend to lock in their post-break rhythm and, for playoff-caliber clubs, firm up the rotation they expect to carry through the summer. If Crochet is able to resume a throwing progression now and stay on that track, Boston would regain a core element of its pitching identity right when the schedule tightens and the margin for error shrinks.

There remains, however, an obvious caveat: timelines in injury recoveries often shift based on how a player responds during progression. Crochet’s emphasis on being close to throwing suggests the Red Sox believe he is past the most fragile stage, but the next steps, including full bullpen sessions and a controlled ramp to game intensity, will determine whether the “after the All-Star break” window holds.

For now, the practical watch items are straightforward. Boston will be looking for Crochet to begin throwing, report no flare-ups, and complete the next stages of ramp-up. The moment he starts facing hitters in a structured setting will offer the clearest confirmation of whether his return window stays intact.

Until then, the Red Sox’s staff continuity will be tested. Crochet’s update does not change the reality that Boston must continue pitching the way they can, with the understanding that one of their best arms is aiming to come back in the back half of the month rather than before the break.