FORT MYERS, Fla. – Pitchers and catchers are officially due to report to Red Sox spring training on Wednesday, but Garrett Whitlock was on the mound on Tuesday morning.
In front of several of his teammates, Whitlock threw 15 pitches to three hitters. There were, he said proudly, six or seven swings-and-misses. He struck out the first two batters, and had a 2-2 count on the third when pitching coach Andrew Bailey came out to take the ball. The audience, which included close friend Tanner Houck, gave him a loud round of applause.
But after missing nearly all of last season due to internal brace surgery on his elbow, Whitlock didn’t want to walk off. “I wanted to strike out the side!” He told the Herald with a smile.
No such luck for the affable right-hander. He’s sticking to a strict regimen as he ramps up and strives to make 2025 his “Year of Health.” His last fully healthy season was his rookie year when he was a standout in the ‘21 Boston bullpen, closing out the Wild Card game against the Yankees, who hadn’t protected him from the previous year’s Rule 5 Draft.
The Red Sox attempted to move Whitlock to the starting rotation in each of the subsequent three seasons. Each time, injuries got in the way. Hip surgery cut his ‘22 campaign short, and elbow issues cost him chunks of ‘23. He was rehabbing a mild oblique strain last April when he suffered a torn UCL out of the blue, costing him the rest of the year.
On Tuesday morning, Whitlock underwent the customary preseason physical and was thrilled to announce he passed with flying colors.
“I feel super healthy,” he said, adding that he found out his pitches averaged 95 mph during the live BP. “It’s gonna be a normal spring training.”
Surrounded by teammates old and new, Whitlock said it felt like the first day of school. He’s excited to be back in the bullpen full-time. He’s one of several candidates for the closer role, and would be happy to go back to ending Yankees’ seasons, but says he’s up for anything.
“I take pride in that Swiss Army Knife role,” he explained. “I love, love that mentality. I feel like any way I can help the staff, I’ll do it.
“At the end of the day, to me, we’re one staff: starter, reliever, closer, it doesn’t matter. We’re one pitching staff going toward the same goal, so whatever role best helps the team win is what I want to do.”
There’s another reason Whitlock can’t wait to take the mound when the Red Sox start playing games. He and his wife, Jordan, welcomed a baby boy last summer. He wants to pitch for them.
“I always play baseball for fun, but my boy and my wife, that’s really why I do it,” he said with a smile. “Being able to take him from stadium to stadium, city to city with her this year, that brings a joy in my heart.”