Garrett Crochet threw a 16-pitch mound session September 4 while pursuing a return. MLB report.

Where the debate belongs

If Boston eventually has the option, using Crochet in relief would create a different set of decisions from writing his name into a rotation. A short assignment asks a pitcher to be ready for a specific pocket of hitters. It can also arrive at an unpredictable moment.

Before imagining a matchup, ask what workload the club has approved. One inning, multiple innings and consecutive-day availability are separate capabilities. A manager cannot plan an entire series around a pitcher without knowing those boundaries.

From the stands, command is worth watching alongside velocity. Falling behind can remove the freedom to use a breaking ball off the plate. Getting ahead can open several ways to finish the at-bat. That sequence matters particularly when a reliever enters with runners already aboard.

Our view is that any proposed role should stay modest until the pitcher and staff establish what is repeatable. The excitement of adding an arm is understandable; choosing the moment to use him is the harder baseball decision. Follow official availability updates, then judge the actual assignment instead of assuming that a return automatically means the most demanding inning.

A dated look at the pitch mix

The Red Sox's September 8, 2025 highlights against the A's provide a useful comparison point. The broadcast identifies fastballs, a changeup and a sinker during Crochet's strikeout sequences. It also captures called strikes as well as swings and misses. This is last season's game footage, not evidence of his current velocity or health.

For a viewer, the difference between those outs is worth noticing. A called strike requires a hitter to be wrong about a pitch he lets pass. A chase asks him to commit to a ball he cannot handle. The same pitcher may get both outcomes without simply trying to throw harder on every delivery.

When watching the archive, try pausing before the final pitch of an at-bat and choosing what you would call. Explain your choice using the count and what the hitter has already seen. Then compare it with the catcher and pitcher's decision. That exercise makes the sequence more useful than a collection of isolated radar readings.

Carry the method forward, but leave the old numbers behind. If Crochet returns, his actual assignment and current execution will matter more than how closely he resembles a highlight from a different season. The archive offers a way to watch pitching, not a promised performance level.