White Sox rookie hurler Crochet exits early

2020 first-round pick suffers left forearm tightness in second

Garrett Crochet departed the decisive Game 3 of the Wild Card Series with White Sox trainer James Kruk. (Eric Risberg/AP)

By Kelsie Heneghan @Kelsie_Heneghan

October 1, 2020

Following the 2020 Draft, White Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet quickly burst onto the scene with an even speedier fastball. But his rookie season has hit a speed bump. Baseball’s No. 89 overall prospect exited early in the second inning of the decisive Wild Card Series 6-4 loss to the A’s

Following the 2020 Draft, White Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet quickly burst onto the scene with an even speedier fastball. But his rookie season has hit a speed bump.

Baseball’s No. 89 overall prospect exited early in the second inning of the decisive Wild Card Series 6-4 loss to the A’s on Thursday. Crochet had left forearm tightness and will be further evaluated, according to MLB.com’s Scott Merkin.

After starter Dane Dunning, the fifth-ranked White Sox prospect, allowed two runners to reach base while registering two outs, Crochet came in and struck out Matt Olson by dialing a fastball up to 98.9 mph, then offering an 84.4-mph slider. In the following frame, Chicago’s No. 4 prospect fanned Khris Davis on four pitches, although his plus fastball never reached 97. Manager Rick Renteria and athletic trainer James Kruk met up with Crochet on the mound, then brought the southpaw to the dugout following a discussion.

GARRETT CROCHET HAS ENTERED THE CHAT pic.twitter.com/2CAYoBwbeV
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) October 1, 2020

"He had some tightness in his forearm," Renteria told reporters after the game. "It wasn't even a thought to leave him in there."

Crochet originally was slated to throw at two more frames, the skipper added. But the drop in velocity was a cause for concern for Renteria and the training staff.

"He wasn't doing anything that really indicated that something was amiss, but the velocity showed something," the manager said. "Once (the tightness) was presented to us ... it was time to get him in and get him looked at."

The 11th overall pick in June's First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Tennessee was added to the White Sox alternate training site on July 14, then called up to the Majors on Sept. 18. Bypassing the Minor Leagues, Crochet did not allow a run in five regular-season appearances with the White Sox. The 21-year-old notched eight strikeouts without issuing a walk in six three-hit frames for an 0.50 WHIP.

Third-ranked White Sox prospect Nick Madrigal singled to center field in the second, his lone hit in four at-bats. He batted .250 in the series.

Kelsie Heneghan is a writer for MiLB.com. Follow her on Twitter @Kelsie_Heneghan.