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Garrett Whitlock, a key arm out of the Boston Red Sox bullpen, delivered a flawless September by not surrendering a single earned run across eight relief outings to wrap up the regular season. However, his postseason showing took a sharp turn when he yielded three runs in a relief stint during Game 2 of the American League wild-card matchup against the New York Yankees, a collapse that seemed inexplicable at the time.
As it turns out, Whitlock had been enduring significant discomfort for an extended period. The Boston Herald reported on Friday, Oct. 9, that the 30-year-old right-hander was diagnosed with a fracture in his right tibia. According to Gabrielle Starr, Whitlock collaborated with the Red Sox medical staff to manage persistent pain in his lower right leg throughout the final month of the campaign, yet the root cause remained unidentified until he underwent imaging tests after Boston was knocked out of the playoffs.
Despite the injury, Whitlock put together impressive numbers: a 7-2 record with a 1.72 ERA in 54 relief appearances, four saves, and a career-best 0.898 WHIP. These statistics likely illuminate why both the pitcher and the organization were determined to keep him on the mound as frequently as possible, even while he was hurting. What remains more puzzling is why scans were not conducted when the pain initially surfaced, rather than waiting until the season concluded.
Key Analysis
Starr's report indicates that Whitlock will avoid surgery on his leg. Since making his debut in 2021, he has been one of Boston's most dependable relievers, with 196 of his 219 career appearances coming out of the bullpen. The wild-card game against the Yankees marked his seventh career postseason outing. Whitlock still has two team option years left on the contract extension he signed in April 2022, with the Red Sox owing him $8.25 million in 2027 and $10.5 million in 2028 if both options are picked up.
Originally reported by yahoo.