Amid Trade Rumors, White Sox Garrett Crochet Shines

Despite his name circling the trade rumor mill, Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Garrett Crochet continues to dominate. The first-year starting pitcher has been a revelation since Pedro Grifol's surprising decision to make his the Opening Day starter. MLB is well aware of his talents, and Wednesday, named the big lefty the American League's Pitcher of the Month in June.

Crochet tossed 37.2 innings while fanning 56 with an ERA of 1.19 over six starts. Most notably, he had a spectacular start on the road against the Seattle Mariners, where he struck out 13 hitters while allowing only two hits. The dominant performance was one of three June starts with at least 10 punchouts.

Ace In The Making

The 25-year-old is also the current major league leader in strikeouts (141), games started (18), and FIP (2.37). He's accumulated four wins above replacement, trailing only league leader Seth Lugo.

After a promising first full season pitching out of the bullpen, Crochet missed the 2022 season after undergoing Tommy John in Spring Training. He returned in 2023, but additional arm problems abbreviated his season to 12.2 innings.

As a result, the Tennesse product totaled only 73 innings in his professional career until this year. He's pitched 101.1 innings thus far and provided fans with one of only a few bright spots in a dreadful year on the South Side.

A Familiar Story

Crochet is the first White Sox pitcher to take home Pitcher of the Month honors since Dylan Cease did so in June and July during his Cy Young runner-up campaign in 2022. Chicago traded Cease in March to the San Diego Padres.

Crochet may have the same fate as Cease. The White Sox are the worst team in MLB and will likely finish with the worst record in their franchise history. The 2025 and 2026 seasons don't offer much hope, as the White Sox will use those years to develop young talent. The lefty is under team control for the next two years at a very low rate, further enhancing the skyrocketing value his performance has generated.

Related: Measuring Garrett Crochet's Trade Value: Complex Factors at Play for White Sox, Suitors

What's On Tap Next?

Naturally, contenders are interested in Chicago's blossoming ace, with multiple suitors already inquiring about his services . The price tag is high, as it should be, and the return would bolster an already ascending farm system. If Chris Getz and Co. can't agree on a contract extension with Crochet, it's only a matter of time until he's dealt.

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