When Garrett Crochet took the mound on Opening Day, few could have predicted this — a 25-year-old lefty who began the year as a question mark now stands among the three best pitchers in baseball. The Chicago White Sox fireballer has officially been named a finalist for the 2025 American League Cy Young Award, completing one of the most astonishing transformations in recent memory.

This is not just a comeback story — it’s a reinvention. Crochet, who entered the season with only 12 career starts, turned skepticism into silence and potential into dominance. Over 180 innings, he delivered electric stuff, elite command, and the kind of poise that forced everyone to take notice. His 2.38 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and 221 strikeouts weren’t just numbers — they were statements.

For a franchise in transition, Crochet’s rise has become the one constant, the proof that resilience still lives on the South Side.

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From “Reliever with Promise” to Ace with Presence

Garrett Crochet was never supposed to be here — not this fast, not this strong. Drafted out of Tennessee with a flamethrower’s arm and a reliever’s workload, his early seasons were defined by flashes of brilliance interrupted by injuries and inconsistency. Then came the quiet winter grind — long bullpen sessions, mechanical refinement, and a determination to prove that he could be more than a one-inning wonder.

“I just wanted to start again,” Crochet said earlier this year. “To really compete every fifth day. That was the dream.”

The dream became reality — and then something bigger. By midseason, Crochet wasn’t just filling a rotation spot; he was anchoring it. His slider cut through lineups like a blade. His fastball sat comfortably in the upper 90s, but it was the maturity — the calm between pitches — that transformed him from a thrower into a true pitcher.

A Lone Bright Star in a Stormy Season

For the White Sox, 2025 has been another year of rebuilding and soul-searching. The standings may not reflect success, but Crochet gave fans something real to hold on to — effort, excellence, and hope.

“He’s everything you want in a leader,” said manager Pedro Grifol. “He doesn’t talk much, but when he takes the ball, everybody knows what time it is.”

That quiet fire became a defining symbol of a team trying to rediscover its identity. In a season of trade rumors, injuries, and front-office uncertainty, Crochet’s starts turned into events. Fans showed up not for the record, but for him — the kid who turned doubt into dominance.

Every pitch seemed to carry meaning. Every inning, a message: the White Sox may be down, but they’re not out.

What This Means for the South Side

It’s been nearly two decades since the White Sox last celebrated a Cy Young winner, but Crochet’s rise signals something deeper — a cultural shift. Chicago isn’t just watching a young ace bloom; it’s watching a foundation being rebuilt in real time.

Teammates describe him as “the heartbeat of the clubhouse,” a quiet professional who leads with example rather than ego. “He doesn’t care about the spotlight,” said catcher Korey Lee. “He just wants to compete. That’s what makes him special.”

Whether he takes home the trophy or not, Garrett Crochet’s 2025 season has already rewritten his story — and maybe the team’s future, too.

For a pitcher once viewed as a project, this year has proven one truth: greatness isn’t always planned. Sometimes, it’s forged in silence, sharpened by doubt, and revealed when the moment demands it.

And on the South Side, that moment has finally arrived.