Garrett Crochet took another step Friday, but he’s not ready to start picturing himself back in a big league game just yet.
After a bullpen session at Fenway Park that featured a bump in intensity and the first sweepers of this ramp-up, Crochet said he’s encouraged by where things stand. He also made clear he’s keeping the brakes on any rush to a return.
“Whatever I say to you guys [reporters] and I don't do it, and I look like a dumbass,” Crochet said from the dugout at Fenway Park on Friday. “And I've done that a couple of times.”
That caution came through again when he was asked whether he thinks it’s realistic to pitch in a game before the postseason starts.
“I’m not sure,” Crochet said. “Trending well right now.
I have a lot more stuff to tick off. I mean this is my first time throwing sweepers in a bullpen, so it'd be a pretty big leap to put myself in a game mindset right now.”
Crochet threw 25 pitches in the session, and he hasn’t appeared in a game since late April. The next checkpoint is another bullpen next week, likely Tuesday, according to Chad Tracy. The Red Sox interim manager said the club is staying patient and trying to avoid creating a longer problem for a shorter-term gain.
“I know there's a lot of excitement seeing him get on a mound, especially on the game mound. The game mound pushes intensity,” Tracy said.
“We're still in check one box at a time, not, 'Oh, he threw off a mound, let's rush Garrett back.' We're very mindful of what he can bring and also very mindful of what he means for the future.
So as long we keep taking steps forward, we're in a good spot. He took another one today, and we'll see how he does over the course of next week as well.”
Crochet said his shoulder feels “really good,” and that he’s now working to get the rest of his body used to the demands of pitching again. He also acknowledged how hard it’s been to watch from the sidelines after thinking he was close before being shut down for a month.
“Going back to that last time I threw the live [BP], I thought I was close, and it's pretty depressing to see that that didn't work out and then being fully shut down for a month,” Crochet said. “I'm just excited to be throwing again, excited that there's even potential for me to get back out there again.
And watching what this team's done all year long, kind of kicking myself because I just want to contribute. Last year, we felt like we had a good squad, and this year they're taking another step forward, and I hate that I can't be a part of it.
But it's been a joy to watch. I'm really proud of those guys, but at the same time, want to be a part of what they've put together.”
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