Extension Spans 2023-26 Seasons with Club Options for 2027 and 2028
BOSTON, MA—The Boston Red Sox today signed right-handed pitcher Garrett Whitlock to a four-year contract extension that spans the 2023-26 seasons, with club options for 2027 and 2028.
Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom made the announcement.
Whitlock, 25, made his Major League debut in 2021 after the Red Sox selected him from the New York Yankees in the 2020 Rule 5 Draft. He led Boston pitchers in ERA (1.96) and relief innings (73.1) last season, going 8-4 with two saves, a 1.10 WHIP, 81 strikeouts, and 17 walks in 46 appearances, all in relief. Whitlock became only the 10th Red Sox pitcher in the Live Ball Era (since 1920) to throw at least 70.0 innings and record an ERA below 2.00. Among the 30 rookies who threw at least 70.0 innings in 2021, Whitlock ranked first in ERA, second in WHIP, and third in opponent OPS (.631).
In 2021, Whitlock made 24 scoreless appearances of more than 1.0 inning, the most such outings in the majors and the most by a Red Sox pitcher since Greg Harris in 1993. In the Postseason, Whitlock pitched in five games and went 1-0 with a 2.16 ERA (2 ER/8.1 IP), a 0.72 WHIP, and a .143 opponent batting average. After recording the final three outs of Boston’s AL Wild Card Game win over the Yankees, he made three consecutive scoreless and hitless appearances beginning with Game 3 of the ALDS. In the clinching game of the Division Series, Whitlock earned the win after recording 2.0 perfect innings.
Born in Snellville, GA, Whitlock was selected by the Yankees in the 18th round of the 2017 MLB First-Year Player Draft. He underwent Tommy John surgery in July 2019, missing the remainder of that season and all of 2020. Following the 2021 season, he received the Unsung Hero Award from the Boston Baseball Writers, as well as the Fireman Award as the Red Sox’ top relief pitcher.
