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Red Sox Get Bad News on Injured Right-Handed Starter After Bullpen Session

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Matthew Sullivan | Last updated Jun 21, 2025 3:35 PM ET

The Boston Red Sox have required starting pitching throughout the entire 2025 season. Part of why they need more starters is the injuries to their current rotation. One of those injured starters got some bad news amid their recovery efforts.

According to a new report from Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic, starting pitcher Kutter Crawford suffered another setback in his recovery progress. This latest setback has made the Red Sox shut Crawford down, with the plan to bring him back from Fort Myers to Boston for an MRI.

Kutter Crawford has been shut down again. Feeling more pain in his wrist. He’s been in Fort Myers but is flying back to Boston for MRI

Jordan Hicks headed on rehab assignment in Worcester tomorrow. Expected to join Red Sox on next homestand
— Jen McCaffrey (@jcmccaffrey) June 21, 2025

Crawford reportedly felt more pain in his wrist, leading the Red Sox to shut him down. Just a few days prior, he began working back towards throwing off a mound. He also had a bullpen session on Friday, but evidently, it didn't go well.

In his attempt to come back to the Red Sox, Crawford has suffered multiple setbacks. Sitting on the 60-day injured list, it seems like Crawford might have a long road ahead of him to return to the mound for the Red Sox.

In 2024, Crawford's last time pitching for the Red Sox, he had a 4.36 ERA and 1.9 WAR on the year. But, despite the numbers not being terrible, he led all of the Major Leagues in some of the worst categories to lead in.

Crawford in 2024 led all of the bases in losses with 16, and home runs allowed with 34. Crawford struck out 175 batters, walked 51, and gave up 155 hits in his 2024 season. He went 9-16, and started an MLB most 33 games during the season.

He was looking to bounce back in 2025, but knee and wrist issues have kept him out of the rotation. After this latest setback, the Red Sox starter is likely to miss even more time, and potentially the rest of the 2025 season.

He's 29 years old, has multiple years of control, and is coming off a rough season in 2024. But, Crawford has had his moments, and would be a nice piece of the rotation for Boston, if he returns in 2025. But with this report, Crawford's return in 2025 is a lot more uncertain.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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