Baseball can be one of the most tough luck sports. Even though one pitcher can dominate and do something spectacular, it can often still end up in a loss.
That was exactly the case on Thursday afternoon for former Tennessee Vols pitcher Garrett Crochet on opening day. Despite throwing six dominant innings for the Chicago White Sox, Crochet took the loss as the Detroit Tigers won 1-0.
How good was Crochet on Thursday? He struck out 8 and walked none while allowing just one run over six innings. That puts him in a class with just two other left-handed pitchers in American League history to post 8 or more strikeouts with no walks on opening day.
Crochet's path to the top of the White Sox rotation has been a rollercoaster. He pitched 54 games in 2021 for Chicago out of the bullpen. However, a torn ulnar collateral ligament cost him the entire 2022 season. He pitched in a relief role again in the 2023 season.
However, he worked last offseason to prepare as a starter, and that opportunity became even more prominent earlier this month when the White Sox traded their ace Dylan Cease to the San Diego Padres. As a result, Crochet got the nod to start the season after a strong Spring Training performance.
Crochet pitched for the Tennessee Vols from 2018 to 2020. He appeared 36 games with 13 starts in just over two full seasons. He posted a career 4.64 earned run average over 132 innings with 149 strikeouts to 48 walks. He was drafted by the White Sox with the 11th overall pick of the 2020 MLB Draft.
It was a tough result on the scoreboard for Crochet on Thursday, but it was a great first step to what White Sox - and Tennessee - fans hope is a breakout season in 2024.
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