BOSTON, MA – The Boston Red Sox have announced the acquisition of left-handed pitcher Garrett Crochet from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for four minor leaguers: right-handed pitcher Wikelman Gonzalez, catcher Kyle Teel, outfielder Braden Montgomery, and infielder Chase Meidroth.
Garrett Crochet
The Red Sox’ 40-man roster now includes 40 players with the addition of Crochet, 25. Crochet was named a 2024 All-Star after making 32 starts and posting a 3.58 ERA (58 ER/146.0 IP) with 209 strikeouts, 33 walks, a 1.07 WHIP, and a .222 opponent batting average for the White Sox. Among pitchers with at least 30 starts, he ranked first in strikeout rate (35.1%) and strikeouts per 9.0 innings (12.88), second in FIP (2.69), and third in strikeout-to-walk ratio (6.33). His strikeouts per 9.0 innings averaged the fifth-highest single-season rate in Major League history (minimum 30 starts), trailing only Gerrit Cole (13.82 in 2019), Spencer Strider (13.55 in 2023), Randy Johnson (13.41 in 2001), and Chris Sale (12.93 in 2017).
Crochet was named the American League’s 2024 Comeback Player of the Year and served as Chicago’s Opening Day starter after previously pitching exclusively in relief from 2020-23. The left-hander recorded six 10-strikeout games in 2024, the most in the AL and tied for the most in the Majors. He allowed three runs or fewer in 15 consecutive starts from April 29 to July 23, posting a 1.87 ERA (17 ER/81.2 IP) during that span. Crochet earned AL Pitcher of the Month honors for June and threw a scoreless fourth inning in the All-Star Game at Globe Life Field. On September 1 against the New York Mets, he struck out each of his first seven batters, tying the AL record to start a game. In his final nine starts, he struck out 47 batters and walked only three in 27.2 innings.
Selected by the White Sox in the first round of the 2020 First-Year Player Draft (No. 11 overall), Crochet made his Major League debut in September 2020, becoming the first pitcher since Brandon Finnegan in 2014 to debut in their draft year. Crochet made his first Opening Day roster in 2021 but missed the entire 2022 season recovering from Tommy John surgery. He appeared in only 13 games in 2023 due to stints on the Injured List. In four career postseason outings (2020-21), he has allowed zero runs over 3.0 innings, giving up five hits with six strikeouts and one walk.
Born in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, Crochet graduated from Ocean Springs High School in 2017 before pitching at the University of Tennessee from 2018-20.
Wikelman Gonzalez
Gonzalez, 22, pitched in 24 games (19 starts) for Double-A Portland in 2024, recording a 4.73 ERA (44 ER/83.1 IP) with 92 strikeouts. Signed by the Red Sox as an international free agent on July 2, 2018, the Venezuela native has a 3.87 ERA (173 ER/392.1 IP) in 100 career minor league games (94 starts).
Kyle Teel
Teel, 22, was the Red Sox’ top selection in the 2023 First-Year Player Draft (No. 14 overall). The left-handed hitter has batted .301 (156-for-518) with 29 doubles, 15 home runs, and 100 RBI in 138 career minor league games while making 95 starts as a catcher and 42 as a designated hitter.
Braden Montgomery
Montgomery, 21, was the Red Sox’ top selection in the 2024 First-Year Player Draft (No. 12 overall). The switch-hitter played baseball at Stanford University (2022-23) and Texas A&M University (2024) after graduating from Madison Central High School in Mississippi.
Chase Meidroth
Meidroth, 23, was selected by the Red Sox in the fourth round of the 2022 First-Year Player Draft. In 255 career minor league games, he has hit .285 (260-for-912) with 20 home runs and an .833 OPS while making 94 starts at third base, 65 at shortstop, 59 at second base, and 32 as a designated hitter.
BOSTON RED SOX 40-MAN ROSTER (40)
Pitchers (24): Brayan Bello, Brennan Bernardino, Cam Booser, Aroldis Chapman, Kutter Crawford, Cooper Criswell, Garrett Crochet, Hunter Dobbins, Richard Fitts, Lucas Giolito, Luis Guerrero, Liam Hendriks, Tanner Houck, Zack Kelly, Chris Murphy, Zach Penrod, Luis Perales, Quinn Priester, Chase Shugart, Justin Slaten, Greg Weissert, Garrett Whitlock, Justin Wilson, Josh Winckowski.
Catchers (1): Connor Wong.
Infielders (5): Triston Casas, Rafael Devers, Vaughn Grissom, David Hamilton, Trevor Story.
Outfielders (5): Wilyer Abreu, Jarren Duran, Jhostynxon Garcia, Rob Refsnyder, Masataka Yoshida.
Infielder/Outfielders (5): Mickey Gasper, Romy Gonzalez, Ceddanne Rafaela, Nick Sogard, Enmanuel Valdez.
