Garrett Crochet will get plenty of new opportunities now that he’s a member of the Boston Red Sox.
He’ll pitch in a historic ballpark for one of the league’s most storied franchises and try to help the Red Sox contend for a playoff spot — something the Chicago White Sox came nowhere close to doing last season with their 121 losses.
With that history comes the chance for Crochet to meet Red Sox legends, some of whom spend time around the team, especially during spring training. And there’s one former Red Sox superstar in particular that Crochet would be thrilled to get to know.
“I think that having any sort of conversation with Pedro (Martinez) would be my ideal world,” Crochet told reporters Friday via a Zoom call, per team-provided video. “But I’m kind of going in with low expectations. Hoping to bump into guys when I can. But other than that, when I get into spring training I intend on just having my head down and working hard.”
Crochet already has a built-in conversation starter with Martinez, who instructs pitchers during spring training at times and holds a special assistant title with the Red Sox. Crochet had to change his No. 45 — the only number he has worn in his big league career — upon being traded to Boston since it’s retired due to Martinez’s greatness in a Red Sox uniform.
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Soon enough Crochet will take the same mound at Fenway Park that Martinez once stood on and stared down opposing hitters. And the fact that Crochet will call the venerable ballpark home, where Martinez and other Red Sox greats played, isn’t lost on him.
“I grew up watching Big Papi, so it’s going to be a very surreal moment to play where he played,” Crochet said.