Kutter Crawford to have wrist surgery, ‘likely' out for the season

New York Times

25-06-2025

Boston Red Sox right-hander Kutter Crawford's 2025 season is likely over before it even begins. Manager Alex Cora told reporters in Anaheim on Wednesday that Crawford, who's been on the injured list since the start of the season, will have right wrist surgery and is 'likely' out for the season.
RHP Kutter Crawford will undergo what will likely be season-ending surgery on his right wrist. Stemmed from something off the field, which Red Sox wouldn't specify, but Alex Cora said it was an 'accident,' and not irresponsible behavior.
— Sean McAdam (@Sean_McAdam) June 25, 2025
The 29-year-old began the season on the IL with right patellar tendinopathy. Crawford, who made a career-high 33 starts and 183 2/3 innings pitched last season, battled a knee injury throughout 2024. The issue subsided with treatment over the winter, but then flared up again before spring training.
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However, the wrist injury is a more recent development. Cora told reporters Crawford injured his wrist in an off-field incident, but wouldn't elaborate other than to say it was not from irresponsible activity.
Cora had first revealed Crawford's setback over the weekend in San Francisco, noting that Crawford was flying from Fort Myers, Fla., where he'd been rehabbing, to Boston for an MRI on his wrist.
In addition to Crawford, the Red Sox have had six other starters spend time on the IL this season. Lucas Giolito (hamstring) and Brayan Bello (shoulder strain) missed the start of the season, and Walker Buehler missed a few weeks in May with shoulder bursitis. Richard Fitts, who started on Wednesday in Anaheim, missed six weeks with a right pectoral strain. All four starters, along with Garrett Crochet, currently make up what has been a revolving door rotation this season for the Red Sox.
The injuries extend beyond that group, as well. Right-hander Tanner Houck has been out since May 14 with a flexor pronator strain, while right-hander Hunter Dobbins landed on the IL this past weekend with an elbow strain.
Houck has been roughed up in two rehab starts with Triple-A Worcester, allowing five earned runs across 2 2/3 innings combined.
The loss of Crawford doesn't immediately impact the Red Sox as he had not been a part of the rotation mix this season and there had been no timetable for his return. But it does further dig into the team's pitching depth.
Left-hander Kyle Harrison, acquired in the Rafael Devers trade last week, is set to make his first start for Worcester on Thursday and will be an option for the big-league rotation, if needed. Prior to the trade, he appeared in eight games, making four starts, for San Francisco this season, posting a 4.56 ERA. He has a 3.46 ERA in 26 innings over six Triple-A starts, as well. Once tabbed as the best left-handed starting pitching prospect in the game, Harrison, 23, didn't reach his full potential with the Giants, but has been working in Worcester to regain his form.
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Right-handers Cooper Criswell and Robert Stock have bounced back-and-forth between Boston and Worcester this season and represent the most immediate depth starter options should the need arise.
Further down the depth chart, right-hander David Sandlin started a combined no-hitter in Double-A Portland this week and has a 3.90 ERA in 12 games, 11 starts. Left-hander Payton Tolle, a 2024 second-round pick, was recently promoted to Double A after a 3.62 ERA in 11 games, 10 starts, for High-A Greenville. Sandlin and Tolle likely aren't options for the big league rotation this season, but it's possible they see time in the majors late in the second half.