What to expect from Garrett Crochet

The White Sox clinched their first playoff berth since 2008 on Thursday, giving them 10 games to fine-tune their club for October. They took a step toward doing exactly that today when they promoted 2020 first-round pick Garrett Crochet to the big leagues.

Ranked No. 96 on MLB Pipeline's Top 100 Prospects list, Crochet has better stuff than most left-handers and could make an impact in Chicago's bullpen. The White Sox can use the last part of the season to find out if he's worthy of a spot on their postseason roster.

When he makes his first appearance, Crochet will become the first player to make his professional debut in the Majors since Mike Leake in 2010. He'll become the first pitcher without pro experience to go straight to the big leagues in the same year he was drafted since Mike Morgan and Tim Conroy in 1978, and the first college arm without pro experience to do so since Dick Ruthven and Eddie Bane in 1973.

Chicago was thrilled to find Crochet available with the No. 11 overall pick in June, and he probably wouldn't have lasted that long if the coronavirus pandemic hadn't ended the college season after four weeks. After a sensational performance in fall practice sent his Draft stock soaring, he came down with mild shoulder soreness and Tennessee held him out of the first three weeks as a precaution.

Crochet pitched well in one 3 1/3-inning outing before the shutdown, which was enough for the White Sox to make him the highest-drafted Volunteers pitcher ever (surpassing R.A. Dickey, 18th overall in 1996) and sign him for $4,547,500. Had he maintained the stuff he displayed during the fall and March while performing well in Southeastern Conference play, he might have pushed his way into the top five selections.

Though Chicago envisions Crochet as a long-term starter, it will deploy him out of the bullpen for now. That's the same plan they used with 2010 first-rounder Chris Sale, who pitched his way to the Majors that summer after just 10 1/3 innings in the Minors. Sale worked as a reliever for two years before moving to the rotation in 2012 and becoming one of the best pitchers in baseball.

Here's our breakdown of Crochet's tools on the 20-80 scouting scale, where 50 represents big league average ability:

Fastball (65): After sitting at 91-95 mph and peaking at 97 with his fastball as a sophomore, Crochet boosted his fastball to 96-101 mph last fall and maintained that velocity in his lone outing in the spring and at alternate camp this summer. His heater plays up further because it features high spin rates that create riding action up in the strike zone and his 6-foot-6 frame furnishes good extension.

Slider (55): We've conservatively graded Crochet's slider as solid, but some evaluators have seen it play as a well-above-average offering. His long arms create difficult angle on his breaking ball, which usually operates at 82-85 with high spin rates.

Changeup (60): Crochet's changeup also shows flashes of becoming a well above-average pitch. He has a quick arm and maintains his arm speed when he throws his changeup, which parks around 90 mph with nice sink.

Control (50): Though he has a big frame, Crochet is able to keep his long levers in sync and provide consistent strikes. His command isn't as sharp as his control, and he'll need to refine that to realize his potential as a frontline starter.