Imagine a pitcher so dominant that he not only carries his team to the playoffs but also becomes the talk of the baseball world. That’s exactly what Boston Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet did last season, and now, one bold analyst is predicting he’ll take it even further in 2026. But here’s where it gets controversial: could Crochet really dethrone Tarik Skubal as the best pitcher in baseball? Let’s dive in.
Last offseason, the Red Sox made a gutsy move by acquiring Garrett Crochet, and it paid off in ways no one could have fully anticipated. Crochet wasn’t just a solid addition—he was a game-changer. His stellar performance helped propel Boston into the playoffs, and he even found himself in the running for the American League Cy Young Award. While Skubal took home the hardware, Crochet’s impact was undeniable. And this is the part most people miss: Crochet’s steady improvement over the past two seasons suggests he’s just getting started.
MLB analyst David Singh of Sportsnet recently dropped a bombshell prediction for 2026, claiming Crochet will be the undisputed best pitcher in all of baseball. In a piece published on Tuesday, Singh wrote, ‘Crochet crowned MLB’s top hurler’ (https://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/bold-mlb-predictions-for-2026-santander-leads-blue-jays-in-hrs/). He acknowledges Skubal’s current reign and Paul Skenes’ potential, but argues that Crochet’s trajectory is unstoppable. ‘The Boston Red Sox ace has steadily improved in each of the past two seasons, and 2026 is when he goes nuclear,’ Singh boldly stated.
What makes Crochet so special? Standing at six-foot-six, the left-handed starter is a throwback to the era of workhorse pitchers. Last season, he led the AL with 205.1 innings pitched and topped MLB with 255 strikeouts. His 18-5 record and 2.59 ERA in 32 starts were nothing short of remarkable. Even in the playoffs, he shined, pitching 7.2 dominant innings and allowing just one run in his lone start. Here’s the kicker: Singh believes Crochet’s playoff performance was just the beginning. ‘Consider that the appetizer, a tasty Caesar salad. What Crochet accomplishes next season will represent the full steak dinner,’ he added.
Crochet’s star-making moment came in Game 1 of the AL Wild Card Series, where he overpowered the Yankees in the Bronx. It was a performance that grabbed national attention and set the stage for what could be a historic 2026 season. With Crochet entering the first year of his six-year, $170 million extension, the Red Sox are betting big on his future—and Singh’s prediction suggests they’re onto something.
But here’s the question that’s sure to spark debate: Is Singh’s prediction a bold foresight or an overzealous assumption? While Crochet’s numbers are impressive, Skubal and Skenes aren’t going anywhere. Could 2026 really be the year Crochet takes the crown, or will the competition prove too fierce? Let us know what you think in the comments—this is one conversation you won’t want to miss.
