Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet has added a new pitch for 2026 MLB season originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Boston Red Sox will have Garrett Crochet on the mound as their Opening Day starting pitcher.
He'll be out there with a brand new pitch, too.
This offseason, Crochet added a splitter to his arsenal.
It'll take the place of the changeup he previously threw.
Crochet worked on the pitch with Vanderbilt coach Tyler Herb:
Here’s a look at Garrett Crochet’s new splitter he developed with Tyler Herb at Vanderbilt.
— Tyler Milliken (@tylermilliken_) February 11, 2026
Herb is the one who recommended the new grip change on what used to be a changeup. Crochet was asking him if he wanted to work in pro ball afterwards. 😭pic.twitter.com/o6LfcUIfqf
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Crochet doesn't necessarily need another weapon. He's coming off a dominant 2025 season.
It was his first season in Boston, and Crochet went 18-5 with a 2.59 ERA. He led the American League with 205.1 innings pitched and with his 255 strikeouts.
The White Sox traded Crochet to the Red Sox, and he was expected to be a key addition for Boston. He was even better than expectation.
If the splitter gives Crochet even another gear this season, it'll be a scary matchup for opposing hitters -- even scarier than it was already.
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