Garrett Crochet’s Turnaround Fueled by Connor Wong’s Guidance
In a remarkable display of resilience, Boston Red Sox pitcher Garrett Crochet rebounded from what was arguably the worst start of his career to deliver a stellar performance against the Oakland Athletics. After facing significant struggles in his previous outing against the Cleveland Guardians, Crochet credits an unexpected source for his revival: teammate Connor Wong.
A Game-Changing Conversation
Following his impressive start against the Athletics, Crochet opened up in a post-game interview about the pivotal conversation he had with Wong just days prior. The left-handed pitcher had been grappling with his four-seam fastball, particularly struggling to locate it on the glove-side.
“Big credit to [Connor] Wong. A couple of days ago, I was talking to him. I was kinda searching, just hadn’t been locating the four-seam glove-side,” Crochet explained. “He kinda got me on practicing the front hip, glove-side sinker to make sure I’m fully getting extended on the pitch, and it got my four-seam back dialed in.”
This input from Wong proved crucial, highlighting how valuable communication and teamwork can be in the high-pressure world of Major League Baseball.
Impact Beyond the Pitching Mound
Wong’s influence extends far beyond Crochet. His contributions have played a significant role in revitalizing Aroldis Chapman’s season as well. Wong was the first to help Chapman refine his pitch location, utilizing pitch-com technology to guide him to throw in specific areas. This collaboration has transformed Chapman’s performance, turning him into one of the league’s standout pitchers this season.
A Key Connection with Brayan Bello
In addition to helping Crochet and Chapman, Wong has established himself as the personal catcher for the emerging ace, Brayan Bello. This partnership has been nothing short of transformative for Bello, who is enjoying a breakout season with an impressive record of 11 wins and 6 losses, a 3.12 ERA, and 114 strikeouts over 152 innings pitched. Wong’s ability to connect with pitchers is becoming increasingly evident, solidifying his role as an indispensable asset to the Red Sox.
The Road Ahead for Wong
As Wong continues to play a pivotal role in the success of his fellow pitchers, fans are hopeful that his own statistics will improve to reflect his contributions. If he can elevate his performance, the overall value he brings to the Red Sox could prove to be crucial as the season progresses.
In a sport where the margins between success and failure are razor-thin, Connor Wong’s mentorship and insight may very well be the secret weapon the Red Sox need to navigate the challenges ahead.
