The Boston Red Sox have not had Kutter Crawford since 2024, and he is nearing a major step toward returning to the team.
Crawford missed the beginning of the 2025 season due to a knee issue. However, just as he was gearing up to return from that, he suffered a wrist injury off the field. He’s been pitching again, but did not appear in any spring training games. Alex Cora revealed where he is in his recovery.
“He’s going to throw like an up/down thing Monday or Tuesday and then he’ll go out on a rehab assignment,” Cora said, per MassLive’s Christopher Smith.
Crawford going on a rehab assignment is great news. It has been over 500 days since he last pitched in a game. His last outing came in September 2024 against the Tampa Bay Rays.
He also dealt with patellar tendinitis last year, so it has been a long, frustrating rehab for Crawford. He led the Red Sox in innings in 2024. He threw 183 2/3 innings that season and posted a 4.36 ERA. He made 33 starts, but it’s unlikely that he will have a spot in the rotation when he’s healthy.
However, that does not mean he cannot play a role in the big leagues. He could be used in long relief, or the Red Sox could keep him as a depth option if the rotation suffers injuries. The Red Sox will want to make sure Crawford takes his time rehabbing after such a long time away from the mound.
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