The Boston Red Sox’s strong push for a playoff berth in 2025 was powered by the phenomenal performance of their two dominant left-handed pitchers, Garrett Crochet and Aroldis Chapman. Despite the early exit from the postseason, the pair received major recognition, with both being named to the All-MLB First Team.
This marks the first time since the award’s inception in 2019 that two Red Sox pitchers have earned All-MLB honors in the same season.
Garrett Crochet: The Ace of the Staff
Garrett Crochet (the main character in the rotation) rewarded the Red Sox for acquiring him in April with an elite campaign that immediately established him as a front-line ace:
- 2025 Regular Season Stats: Finished the year with an impressive 18-5 record and a stellar 2.59 ERA.
- Dominance: Crochet finished second in MLB in innings pitched and led the league in strikeouts with 255. He is just the fifth pitcher in Red Sox history to reach the 250-strikeout mark in a single season.
- AL Cy Young Result: His performance landed him second place in the American League Cy Young Award voting, finishing behind the Detroit Tigers’ Tarik Skubal, who received 26 first-place votes to Crochet’s four. Crochet finished with 132 points to Skubal’s 198.
- Postseason Statement: Crochet delivered a memorable performance against the Yankees in Game 1 of the Wild Card round, holding them to just one run.
Aroldis Chapman: The Unhittable Closer
The Red Sox’s bullpen was secured by the veteran dominance of Aroldis Chapman, who turned in one of the finest seasons of his career at age 37:
- Top Closer: Chapman (the co-star and closer) was awarded the 2025 Mariano Rivera American League Reliever of the Year, the second time he has won the honor in his career (2019).
- 2025 Regular Season Stats: Ended the year with a 5-3 record, 32 saves, and a phenomenal 1.17 ERA across 67 games.
- Franchise Record: His summer performance was historic, setting a Red Sox franchise record with 17 straight hitless appearances in a stretch that spanned from July 26 to September 7 (14.2 innings pitched).
Looking Ahead to 2026
Manager Alex Cora’s anecdote perfectly sums up the duo’s impact—Crochet confidently told his manager that in the Wild Card game, he would need to make only “one call to the bullpen… straight to Chappy.”
The great news for Red Sox fans is that both aces are under contract for the 2026 season, giving the team the rare luxury of returning both a First-Team All-MLB ace and the top closer in the American League. This dynamic left-handed duo will be the foundation upon which Boston hopes to build a deeper postseason run.
The Red Sox are clearly set at two premium pitching spots. Given this, would you like to check the latest buzz regarding their rumored blockbuster trade for slugging first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino to improve their offense?
