CLEVELAND — Garrett Crochet began his June 13 start against the Seattle Mariners by striking out J.P. Crawford and Dylan Moore.
The Chicago White Sox left-hander struck out two more batters in the second inning. And another pair in the third.
He was well on his way to establishing a career high in a game, finishing with 13 strikeouts in the seven-inning outing at T-Mobile Park.
It was a standout performance in a standout month for Crochet, who was named the American League Pitcher of the Month for June on Wednesday.
Crochet went 1-1 with a 1.91 ERA, six walks and 56 strikeouts during six starts in the month. He led the majors in strikeouts in June and was fourth in the AL in ERA and strikeout-to-walk ratio (9.33).
And he’s done it all while his name has surfaced in trade speculation.
His 56 strikeouts were the second-highest total in June by a Sox pitcher in franchise history, trailing only Chris Sale (75) in 2015. He reached double-digits in strikeouts three times during the month, recording 10 in six innings against the Boston Red Sox on June 7 at Guaranteed Rate Field, 13 while allowing one run on two hits against the Mariners, and 11 in seven innings during his most recent start Sunday at home against the Colorado Rockies.
He helped the White Sox end their single-season, franchise-record 14-game losing streak while allowing one earned run in the 7-2 win against the Red Sox on June 7.
Crochet is the first Sox to earn a pitcher of the month honor since Dylan Cease in June and July 2022.
The team’s first-round pick in 2020, Crochet is 6-6 with a 3.02 ERA, 141 strikeouts, 20 walks and a 0.93 WHIP in 18 starts this season after making the move from the bullpen to the rotation. He is the only Major League Baseball pitcher since at least 1901 to have 140-plus strikeouts with 20 walks or less over his first 18 career starts.
