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Garrett Crochet 2021 Outlook: Uncertain Role but Massive Upside
4 years agoSelected 11th overall in the 2020 draft, Crochet wasted no time in showing he was capable of getting out big-league hitters. The hard-throwing lefty reached the Majors with a reputation for being able to tickle 100 mph with his heater but he was also known for having command issues which made him more hittable than he should have been in college. Crochet's strong fastball-slider mix — which was 85% fastballs in his debut — held opposing hitters to an invisible 0% Barrel rate and a very low 8% Sweet Spot rate. Unfortunately, the young pitcher's season was cut short by forearm strain, which did not require surgery but creates some concern moving forward. The White Sox have not committed to a role for Crochet as the 2021 season nears but we're operating under the assumption that he'll open the year as a multi-inning reliever capable of pitching in high-leverage situations who will be stretched out enough to also act as an emergency starter. Crochet's ADP currently sits around 435 which is low when taking his talent and ceiling into consideration but the uncertain role and injury scare are reasonable concerns.
