Red Sox Stretching Out Pitcher As Starter During Spring Training

He made his major-league debut last season.

The Boston Red Sox are looking to make the most out of Kutter Crawford's versatility during spring training.

Crawford, a 26-year-old right-hander, is set to be stretched out as a starter in camp, but he could also earn a role in the team's bullpen. Red Sox manager Alex Cora has said that they will evaluate Crawford's progress in spring training before deciding on his role for the regular season.

Chain-link fence live batting practice video: Kutter Crawford vs Devers pic.twitter.com/fCvqf8KF9a

— Alex Speier (@alexspeier) February 23, 2023

Crawford made the Opening Day roster in 2022 as a reliever but struggled in that role. He was later shifted to starting, where he had a dominant stretch from July to August.

Over a span of eight games, including seven starts and one long relief appearance, he recorded a 3.20 ERA and 41 strikeouts over 45 innings. However, Crawford struggled in his final three starts, allowing 17 runs in just 12.2 innings.

Despite the rough finish to his 2022 season, Cora is impressed with Crawford's growth and believes he has a good understanding of what he needs to do to succeed.

The twenty-five year-old's ability to make adjustments on the fly and effectively use his pitches at a young age has also been noted by Cora.

While it's likely Crawford will begin the 2023 season in Triple-A Worcester's starting rotation, his versatility and strong potential for growth make him a valuable asset for the Red Sox organization.

He is a former 16th-round pick by the Red Sox in the 2017 MLB Draft.

The right-hander holds a 3.73 ERA over 73 appearances (70 starts) in his minor-league career. Photo Credit: Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports