Sox lefty Crochet picks up where he left off last season

Garrett Crochet and Michael Kopech are very different, yet markedly similar.

Crochet is a left-handed power pitcher and Kopech is known for his right-handed heat.

Both young arms project to front-end starters for the White Sox in the not too distant future, but Crochet and Kopech are working out of the bullpen this season.

Kopech debuted on Friday night and delivered 2 scoreless inning of relief with 3 strikeouts.

Crochet took the mound for the first time Saturday night and also had 3 strikeouts over 2⅓ scoreless innings.

"I feel like pretty much anybody in our bullpen at this point could go 1 or 2 innings, could go out there and turn over the lineup," Crochet said. "But definitely it's nice to be looked to do that role."

The 21-year-old Crochet joined the Sox last September, just over three months after he was drafted on the first round (No. 11 overall) out of Tennessee.

In 8⅓ combined innings, Crochet has yet to allow a run and has 11 strikeouts and no walks.

While he throws a biting slider and deceptive changeup, Crochet's fastball is his calling card.

"I think it's definitely taken a step forward," he said. "I was commanding it pretty well last year, but I've made some small increments to get more on line to the target mentally. Just firing right toward the mitt as opposed to rearing back to try to throw it as hard as I can in the general direction."