Garrett
Crochet

2020 DRAFT:Evaluated in the spring of 2018 as a future top round pick as a freshman, Crochet has developed as expected. He now sits comfortably in the mid-90s with his explosive heater, that has a 2500-2600 rpm spin rate. Health delayed his start to 2020 and he only got one start in, but threw 32 of 41 pitches for strikes. His super quick arm generates high spin rates from a 3/4 slot with elite extension (6.77') out front. At 6-foot-5, 215 pounds he also has the physicality to match his confident mound presence, as he carries himself like a veteran big leaguer. His other weapons are a sharp, above average slurve and a firm, above average sinking changeup. He also shows high aptitude as he continues to refine his delivery, making an adjustment this spring by using his lower half more, further strengthening his ease of operation while finding additional velocity. Possessing the stuff to project as a potential front-of-the-rotation starter, the potentialto reach his ceiling doesn't involve throwing more strikes or developing another pitch. He already has three good ones in his arsenal. The key for him will be developing from a 2.5-speed to a 3-speed pitcher. At 90-92 mph his change-of-pace is too hard. At 83-86 mph his slider is too slow. And the bottom velocity of either pitch isn't low enough. Typically, successful front-of-the-rotation pitchers gather outs in bunches by using three tiers of velocity, unless one of their pitches is elite (a Chris Sale slider for example). Crochet has good pitches, but not one can be considered elite at present.He should receive top half of the first round consideration, despite missing his first three starts this spring due to mild shoulder soreness.

7/2/19:An athletic and competitive lefty, Crochet is yet another strikeout lefty on the CNT staff (81 SO in 65 IP this spring). He’s armed with a lively, high spin rate fastball up to 95 mph (mostly 91-93) and a short, sharp slider ranging from 80-83 mph during both of his CNT trial appearances. Neither were as impressive stuff-wise when compared toa spring look at Kentucky, but he showed an ability to pitch without his best stuff by allowing no runs in two innings during this recent CNT scrimmage and another two scoreless with three punchouts against the Coastal Plain Select squad. He continues to grow and improve since our first look inMarch ‘18 at Ole Miss. Now standing 6-foot-4, 210 pounds Crochet has a quick paced delivery and releases the ball from a three-quarter slot with good down angle to the plate. However, it’s a delivery that still needs additional refinement, and he could use his lower half more for potentially even more velocity. He has excellent arm speed and projects as a starter at the next level. He carries himself like a Big Leaguer is a first round follow for 2020. (Seifert)

4/18/19: Super quick-armed lefty Garrett Crochet has the biggest upside. We wrote about Crochet last spring after his March start at Ole Miss. He continues to improve and now features a power fastball at 90-97 mph (2540-2610 rpm spin rate), a sharp 83-85 mph slider (2500 rpm average spin rate) and a firm 87-88 mph straight changeup from a three-quarters slot. He adds and subtracts showing 90-91 on a "BP" fastball with cut action to his gloveside, while also showing the ability to sit at 94-96 mph in the later innings. His top velocity of 97 mph was reached during the seventh inning of his Thursday start. His delivery still needs a little fine-tuning and he could use his lower half more for potentially even more velocity, but he's on track to be one of the top draft arms in the entire 2020 class. And, best of all, he carries himself like a big leaguer with an excellent pitcher's mentality. (Seifert)

3/21/18:The top prospect for future drafts on the Volunteers was an easy one to find. Standing 6’5/200 and throwing in the low-90s from the left side was freshmanGarrett Crochet. As a Mississippi prep, he was understandingly amped up and overthrowing early in the game, touching 93 mph up and out of the strike zone with his fastball. He settled down and located his heater lower in the zone for the next several innings before tiring in the seventh. He mixed in a 81-85 mph slider and a 79-82 mph changeup. The changeup has a chance to be an above average pitch, as he showed control down in the zone with fastball arm speed. He worked quick and showed good on-field makeup; competed with good poise throughout the evening. Pitched much better than the boxscore (6.2 IP, 10 H, 6 R, 1 BB, 1 SO) indicates after poor fly ball defense cost him a couple runs in the first inning and he stayed in the game for 109 pitches after hitting the wall after 99 pitches in the seventh. In his final 10 pitches four runs crossed the plate. (Seifert)