Full Breakdown
Garrett Crochet’s Injury Update: Shoulder Inflammation Delays Return Past All-Star Break
6/14/2026, 1:05:39 AM
Current Status and Timeline
Boston Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet confirmed that his low-grade lat strain is asymptomatic, but lingering inflammation in his left shoulder will keep him on the 15-day injured list until after the All-Star break (mid-July). He is “close to restarting throwing” but warned that a return before the July 13-16 break would be “a huge leap.”
Background & Context
Crochet entered the 2026 season as the Red Sox’s staff ace after a 2025 campaign in which he led the American League with 205 1/3 innings, 255 strikeouts and finished second in Cy Young voting. In early April 2026 he posted a 3-3 record with a 6.30 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 37 strikeouts over 30 innings before shoulder inflammation landed him on the injured list on April 29. A subsequent lat tightness in late May added a minor setback.
Data & Statistics
- 2025: 2.59 ERA, 205 1/3 innings, 255 strikeouts (AL leader).
- 2026 (pre-injury): 3-3, 6.30 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 37 K, 30 IP (six starts).
- Current IL stint: 48 days as of June 12.
Official Statements & Responses
Red Sox pitching coach Craig Breslow told MassLive that “Garrett continues to make good progress with the lat strain,” echoing interim manager Chad Tracy’s assessment that the shoulder, not the lat, is the primary obstacle. Team medical staff emphasized the need to protect the shoulder capsule, a “crucial component in overhead throwing,” and stressed that rushing the rehab could jeopardize long-term health.
Criticism & Opposition
Fantasy analysts have advised that Crochet be “stashed in all fantasy formats while he recovers,” noting that his absence has left Boston’s rotation thin and contributed to a 17-22 record since his last start on April 25. The Red Sox’s decline to last place in the AL East (27-39) underscores concerns that the team may need to adjust roster strategy if Crochet remains unavailable.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Early June reports suggested Crochet’s lat strain was “a lot worse than what we thought,” prompting speculation about a prolonged layoff. Crochet later clarified that the comment referred to his shoulder, not the lat, describing the lat as “minor” and “asymptomatic.” The initial misinterpretation created divergent narratives about injury severity, highlighting a gap in early communication.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I was talking about my shoulder,” — Garrett Crochet, Pitcher, Boston Red Sox
- “I think that we all, you guys (in the media) included, from the information that I was receiving and relaying to you, wouldn’t have expected the shoulder to keep me out as long as it has.” — Garrett Crochet
- “When you’re dealing with the capsule, it’s a little finicky, and it’s a very crucial component in overhead throwing, so it was really something that we didn’t want to rush, and add the lat into that, and that’s kind of what I was referring to. It’s just taken longer than expected to bounce back from everything.” — Garrett Crochet
- “I think it would take a huge leap to say that I’d be back before then. If I hadn’t injured my lat as well, then I’d say, yeah it’s possible, but I think that that would be really rushing it.” — Garrett Crochet
- “My understanding is that like Chad said, Garrett continues to make good progress with the lat strain.” — Craig Breslow, Red Sox Pitching Coach
Why It Matters / Impact
Crochet’s prolonged absence removes a top-tier left-handed starter from a rotation already strained by injuries to Johan Oviedo, Tanner Houck and Kutter Crawford. The delay also affects the financial clause in his six-year extension that triggers a $15 million club option for 2032 if he spends over 120 days on the IL with a left-arm injury, a threshold he is approaching.
What’s Next
Crochet aims to begin a structured throwing program within days, followed by a potential rehab assignment that could extend beyond mid-July. The Red Sox will monitor his shoulder progress closely while evaluating roster moves to mitigate the impact of his continued unavailability.
