Garrett Crochet, a standout lefthander at the University of Tennessee, made his mark with the number 34 on his back, a tribute to his childhood idol, David Ortiz. Later, as he ascended to one of the best pitchers in baseball last season for the White Sox, he donned a No. 45 jersey, a homage to Pedro Martinez. These numbers are deeply ingrained in Red Sox lore and the fabric of Boston's baseball legacy.

An Unplanned Number Choice

"Since high school, I had never really picked a number. In high school, I wore No. 14, which I believe was retired [Jim Rice]. So, it was quite a coincidence how things worked out," Crochet said on Friday afternoon via Zoom. The Red Sox were delighted with this unexpected turn of events.

The Sox's New Ace

On Friday, the Sox introduced the newly acquired Crochet. As chief baseball officer Craig Breslow recently proclaimed, he is their ace. "The opportunity to play for the market of Boston and the passionate fan base is an extraordinary chance in this game," Crochet expressed.The Sox traded for the 6-foot-6-inch, 245-pound Crochet on Wednesday. They gave up former first-round picks catcher Kyle Teel (2023) and outfielder Braden Montgomery (2024), infielder Chase Meidroth, and starter Wikelman Gonzalez to secure his services and aim for another American League East title. It was a significant cost, but one they believed was worth it for victory.

Overcoming Challenges

The White Sox drafted Crochet 11th overall in 2020 with the intention of making him a starter. However, the COVID-19 shutdown delayed his development. In 2022, he underwent Tommy John surgery and never pitched an inning in the minors during his rise. But in 2024, at the age of 25, he scratched the surface of his potential, compiling a 3.58 ERA and 209 strikeouts in 146 innings over 32 starts. The White Sox had to manage his innings due to his new role as a starter, but his performance was outstanding."Transitioning to a starter is easier said than done, but I felt I could handle it well. You're just focused on getting outs, and I happened to get a lot of them. There wasn't a big adjustment for me," Crochet explained.

The Bright Lights of Fenway

The lights will be much brighter at Fenway Park compared to the South Side of Chicago. The expectations are higher than those of the historically struggling White Sox, who set a modern-day record with 121 losses in 2024. Despite the small sample size, Crochet's talent is remarkable, and the Sox have already started to mold it."I believe I'll have a more in-depth conversation next week with [pitching coach] Andrew Bailey and the rest of the staff. I already have a connection through my former pitching coach, Ethan Katz, who knows Bailey from the game. So, I'm looking forward to those conversations," Crochet said.

Enhancing His Arsenal

Crochet's biggest weapon is his four-seam fastball, which helped him achieve a 35 percent strikeout rate last season. However, his arsenal is mainly limited to the fastball, cutter, and an occasional changeup. He hopes to expand it."I've been thinking about it on my own. Incorporating the sinker later in 2024 would give me truly five pitches I could throw at any moment. It will be a process of fine-tuning," Crochet said.The Red Sox have added Crochet's powerful arm to their rotation, and he will now wear No. 35.Julian McWilliams can be reached at julian.mcwilliams@globe.com. Follow him @byJulianMack.