MLB Notebook: Sonny Gray’s Red Sox debut a stark contrast to Garrett Crochet’s Opening Day gem

The Red Sox acquired veteran right-hander Sonny Gray last winter as part of a broader effort to refortify their rotation.

Gray has long been a steady workhorse, logging 184, 166 1/3, and 180 2/3 innings over the past three seasons. Boston brought in the 36-year-old to provide stability and veteran leadership alongside a developing core of young arms.

The version of Gray the Red Sox saw on Saturday afternoon was far from his usual steady self, as he struggled with command and lasted just four innings. That included a 35-pitch first inning in which he faced seven batters and allowed two runs.

He finished with three earned runs, one walk, and five strikeouts, throwing 80 pitches, 51 for strikes.

Gray’s outing stood in stark contrast to Garrett Crochet, who dominated the Reds on Opening Day. Boston’s ace delivered six scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and two walks while striking out eight to lead the Sox to a 3–0 victory.

“He did an amazing job,” manager Alex Cora said of his ace on Thursday. “That last inning, (he) started with a walk and then he just found it back and finished strong, and gave us a chance for the offense to cash in.”

On the flip side, Gray labored through his outing but battled to complete four innings.

“He finished strong, to be honest with you,” Cora said of the veteran Gray. 

After allowing a leadoff solo home run to Sal Stewart in the third and a follow-up single to Eugenio Suárez, Gray settled in to retire five of the final six batters he faced.

“The first inning got a little carried away,” said the righty. “They kind of jumped me early. Overall, I don’t feel like I put us in a good position to win the game, if I’m being honest...I just put us in a pretty big hole early and we did our best to climb out of it. I just don’t feel like I gave us a really good chance to win the game.”

There were other factors throughout the game that didn’t help Gray, including a throwing error from shortstop Trevor Story in the second inning that led to an unearned run. Gray also didn’t do himself any favors in that frame, misplaying a slow chopper in front of the mound that allowed another run to score from third. The play nearly turned chaotic, as it appeared he briefly considered trying to fire home before losing control of the ball.

“As soon as he hit it, I knew it was going to be a weird one,” Gray explained. “I went to field the ball. And as I fielded the ball, it was in my glove, but I never had it. And then I just saw him right in front of me and it (the ball) was kind of juggling in my glove. I just saw him in front of me, so I was like, OK, I’ll just go tag him because I didn’t feel like I had a grip on the ball where I could do like a little shovel pass to Narvi. So then I went to try to tag him and he just kind of dodged it and I just lost the ball.”

Gray is no stranger to Great American Ball Park, having pitched for the Reds from 2019 through 2021 before returning as a visiting pitcher with the Cardinals.

“I faced these guys a lot the last few years, just being in the division,” said Gray, “and they were kind of leaning over (the plate, looking to go the other way). I could tell that was going to be the approach and I just wasn’t able to then make the adjustment to combat that.

“I continued to try to execute pitches and stay in it. I never had lack of (competitiveness). It just didn’t go our way early, but I was happy to see that we didn’t give up. We fought back and gave them a run for it there at the end.”

To be clear, the Red Sox aren’t expecting Gray to be Crochet. What they need is a steady, mid-rotation presence who can eat innings and keep them in games. 

Through his first couple of outings this spring, Gray struggled. In just 8 2/3 innings, he posted a 6.23 ERA, allowing two home runs and seven runs while striking out eight. He ultimately finished his first spring training with Boston with a 4.91 ERA. Pitchers are using their time on the mound in Grapefruit and Cactus League play to work on pitches and mechanics. 

That alone wouldn’t be overly alarming in a vacuum; spring numbers can often be misleading, but it’s the way those results are being produced that raises concern.

Gray was far more effective against left-handed hitters in 2025, holding them to a .668 OPS with a 29% strikeout rate, which is an excellent mark. That trend held on Saturday, as he allowed just one hit to a lefty while striking out three.

Right-handed hitters, however, did the damage. They went 5-for-12 (.417) against Gray, striking out just twice while posting a 3.60 WHIP. Situationally, the Reds also capitalized, hitting .400 against him with two outs and .429 with no outs.

Again, it’s just a four-inning sample size for the right-hander, but every pitching move Craig Breslow makes, including bringing in a veteran like Gray, will be heavily scrutinized for a Red Sox club with postseason aspirations.

Crochet picked up right where he left off last season, shaking off a tough spring in which he posted a 7.36 ERA. His biggest moment in the season opener came in the bottom of the sixth, when the Reds loaded the bases with Suárez at the plate.

Crochet rose to the occasion, looking every bit the ace by burying a 1–2 cutter in the dirt to put Suárez away. He followed it up by blowing a 90-mph cutter past Spencer Steer, overpowering the right-hander to escape the jam and end the threat.

On paper, the Red Sox rotation stacks up as one of the best in baseball. But as we all know, games aren’t played on paper or in a simulation. For that potential to hold, Boston will need consistency from Gray to avoid any comparisons to a Walker Buehler-type drop-off.

“I felt good,” he said. “I’m just going to keep pushing forward, get to work and figure out a way to make an adjustment and I think we’ll be OK.”

In Sunday’s series finale, the Red Sox will turn to Connelly Early, looking to secure the series win and carry momentum into their upcoming trip to Houston.

Early has been a surprise for the Red Sox, rapidly climbing through the minors in 2025 before making four starts down the stretch last season, posting a 2.33 ERA. He even earned the ball in Game 3 of the American Wild Card round in New York, a sign of the organization’s growing trust in the young left-hander.

This spring, Early earned the final spot in the Red Sox rotation over newcomer Johan Oviedo. Across five Grapefruit League appearances, Early impressed with a 1.59 ERA and 0.94 WHIP over 17 innings.

He also edged out fellow left-hander Payton Tolle, who was optioned to Triple-A Worcester earlier this week.

“I feel like (spring training) went really well,” Early said. “I felt confident out there. I was able to go on the road a lot and face a fair share of big league hitters. So I got to see their swings against me and figure out how I wanted to attack them.” 

Tolle is still expected to factor into the Red Sox' plans this season, but will continue refining his secondary pitches to better complement his fastball while with Triple-A Worcester.

The left-hander is set to make his season debut with the WooSox on Sunday afternoon in the series finale against the Syracuse Mets at Polar Park.

If Early looks anything like he did down the stretch last season and this past spring, Boston could feature three left-handers in the rotation capable of giving opposing lineups fits.

Sox fans will also get their first look at Ranger Suárez next week, when he makes his team debut on the road in Houston. Oviedo is expected to piggyback behind him, as the club continues to build Suárez back up following his time at the World Baseball Classic.

CB Bucknor’s ABS Blunders

Under no circumstances should an umpire become the story of a baseball game.

Unfortunately, CB Bucknor missed that memo, and that’s exactly what happened on Saturday afternoon.

What unfolded behind the plate in the game between the Red Sox and Reds wasn’t just bad, it took the bat out of the hands of both lineups, leaving both broadcasters and fans questioning what they were seeing from a seasoned umpire.

Bucknor has long been known for an inconsistent strike zone, and that reputation was never more evident than it was on Saturday.

The veteran umpire, who has been a major league umpire since 1999, had eight calls challenged, six of which were overturned.

The most egregious sequence came in the sixth inning, with rookie Ryan Watson on the mound for the Red Sox.

“He has one job to do, it’s (to) call balls and strikes,” said Cora, who was ejected in the eighth, after defending Story, who was called out on a check swing by the home plate umpire. “It wasn’t his best day. That’s what the system does. It’s out there, everybody sees it, and he’ll be the first one to accept it. I saw him putting his head down after one of the challenges. And we’re all human. It’s not easy, what we do and what he does.”

The Red Sox were trailing 5-3 to the Reds in the sixth inning, when Watson was tasked with facing Suárez with the bases loaded and one out.

Watson, a Rule 5 draft pick acquired by the Red Sox in a trade with the Athletics for minor league infielder Justin Riemer, appeared to get ahead of Suárez in a crucial spot.

After working the count in his favor, Watson fired a borderline sinker that Bucknor rang up as strike three. Suárez immediately tapped his helmet to challenge, and moments later, the scoreboard confirmed what many suspected: the pitch was below the zone.

Suárez returned to the box, and Watson reset on the mound, delivering a four-seamer, only for Bucknor to ring him up again.

As the crowd groaned, Suárez once again tapped his helmet to challenge. A dejected Bucknor shrugged and signaled for the review. Moments later, the replay confirmed yet another pitch just off the zone, and the crowd erupted after two straight overturned calls.

“That’s probably the loudest I’ve heard a stadium while pitching,” Watson said. “So it was intense, for sure.”

On the seventh pitch of the at-bat, Suárez grounded out to second baseman Marcelo Mayer, allowing Watson to escape the jam.

But Bucknor’s difficult afternoon wasn’t over.

In the eighth inning, frustration boiled over for the Red Sox when Story was called out on strikes. Typically composed, Story immediately turned to argue the call, prompting Cora and Jose Flores to step in and restrain him. 

Cora was ultimately ejected, leaving Boston to deal with the fallout.

The Red Sox managed to respond in the ninth, as Wilyer Abreu launched a game-tying solo home run. But the rally proved short-lived, as Dane Myers delivered a walk-off single in the 11th inning to seal the win for the Reds.

Around the League

The Cubs have locked up infielder Nico Hoerner on a six-year, $141 million extension that includes deferrals, according to multiple reports.

Hoerner’s deal ranks as the fourth-largest guaranteed contract ever for a second baseman, trailing only Robinson Canó (10 years, $240 million), Marcus Semien (7 years, $175 million), and Jose Altuve (7 years, $163.5 million).

That price point helps explain why Breslow and the Red Sox didn’t pursue a trade for Hoerner. Committing that level of money would have required both significant prospect capital and a sizable financial investment. It wouldn't have been wise for the Red Sox to give Hoerner that kind of payday. 

Hoerner’s extension also comes on the heels of the Cubs locking up star center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong to a six-year, $115 million deal on Opening Day. Both players are now under contract through 2032, forming a long-term core alongside Alex Bregman (signed through 2030) and Dansby Swanson (under contract through 2029).

Special Moment

Dom Smith delivered a moment that transcended the game, launching a walk-off grand slam in his debut with the Braves just weeks after the passing of his mother from cancer.

As he rounded the bases, emotion met celebration, his teammates waiting at home plate after he capped off a stunning five-run ninth inning. The former Mets first baseman etched his name into history in the process, becoming the first player ever to hit a walk-off grand slam in his team debut, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

What an Entrance

Mason Miller made his season debut on Saturday night and made it a memorable one.

Closers around the game have leaned into theme-song entrances, bringing a WWE-like energy to the ninth inning. For years, Edwin Díaz and his iconic “Narco” entrance, complete with live trumpet, have set the standard across baseball.

As Miller took the mound against the Tigers, the lights at Petco Park went dark. “Blind” by Korn blasted through the speakers, and what followed felt like pure cinema echoed around the ballpark. The song hit its peak just as Miller stepped onto the mound, creating a moment that’s already social media replay-worthy.

Miller struck out the first batter he faced and hit 101 mph during the at-bat. After issuing a walk with two outs, he slammed the door—striking out Kevin McGonigle on three pitches to end the game, completing a hitless outing.

Top Prospect 

Speaking of McGonigle, the 21-year-old made quite the first impression in his debut with the Tigers, collecting four hits and becoming the third-youngest player in the last 100 MLB seasons to record four or more hits on Opening Day.

“What a debut,” manager A. J. Hinch said. “He can hit.”

McGonigle wasted no time making his presence felt, ripping the first big league pitch he saw for a bases-loaded, two-run double during a four-run first inning against the Padres. He stayed hot from there, adding hits in his next two at-bats and scoring his first career run.

He capped off the performance with a fourth hit in the ninth, finishing 4-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored in a debut to remember.

Making History 

Chase DeLauter is off to a blistering start for the Guardians, launching his fourth home run of the season on Saturday.

DeLauter became just the third player in major league history to homer in each of his first three career games, joining Kyle Lewis (2019) and Story, who famously homered in four straight to begin his career in 2016 with the Colorado Rockies.

He also became only the second player ever to hit four home runs in his first three games, again joining Story in that rare company.

Extension's Continue 

The Orioles signed right-hander Shane Baz to a five-year, $68 million extension this week, betting on his upside despite an injury-interrupted career to this point.

Baz, 26, has logged just 286 major league innings due to a series of setbacks, but the Orioles are banking on his high-end talent as he slots into the middle of their rotation. He had been on track to reach free agency following the 2028 season. The deal begins immediately, covering three arbitration years while also buying out two of his free-agent seasons, giving the Orioles cost certainty and long-term control if Baz can stay healthy and reach his ceiling.