sitting on ready
No one would appear more ready for the MLB season (stateside version) to begin than Garrett Crochet. The former Ocean Springs High standout, now with the Boston Red Sox, threw 5 1/3 shutout innings Friday in a Grapefruit League game against Pittsburgh and pronounced himself “pumped” for his opening day start. The Red Sox launch the 2025 campaign at Texas on Thursday. Crochet, a 2024 All-Star acquired in an off-season trade, has a 0.57 ERA over 15 1/3 innings this spring. Commanding a 97-mph four-seamer, a sinker and a cutter, he has struck out 30, roughly half the batters the 6-foot-6 left-hander has faced. Crochet was 6-12 with a 3.58 ERA for the lowly Chicago White Sox last season, when he threw just 146 innings. The Red Sox will want their new ace to shoulder more of a load in his second season as a starter. … Who else is ready? Jackson Prep product Will Warren, likely to be in the New York Yankees’ rotation, has posted a 1.09 WHIP and a .219 average against this spring over 19 1/3 innings. His big league debut was a little rocky last year, but he appears primed for much better things in 2025. … Former Southern Miss star Matt Wallner has belted six home runs for Minnesota, tied for the spring training lead entering today’s play. The lefty-hitting outfielder is batting .231 with 14 RBIs. He has been pegged by mlb.com as an X-factor in the Twins’ bid to make the playoffs this season. … Colt Keith, the ex-Biloxi High standout who shined (.260, 13 homers) as a rookie with Detroit in 2024, has hit the ground running this spring, ranking among the top hitters with a .320 average in 50 at-bats. Having moved from second base to first, the 6-foot-2, 211-pound Keith has four doubles and five RBIs.