Red Sox’ Kutter Crawford shares how he suffered off-field season-ending injury

The most recent Major League Baseball player to have an injury at home is Kutter Crawford.

The Red Sox pitcher revealed that he had surgery in July after suffering a wrist injury that ended his season while working around his house in June.

Crawford informed reporters that he was only performing some fairly routine housekeeping. When I went to move something outdoors while I was moving other things, it became hung up and turned my wrist in the opposite direction. There was a faint pop.

I had that instinct when it happened. There was a sort of pop. My body didn’t like it when I tried to move in a certain way, even though I could still squeeze my fist and do everything else.

Crawford was at the Red Sox spring training complex in Fort Myers, Florida, when he sustained the wrist injury. Prior to the accident, Crawford had not pitched this season because of patellar tendinopathy in his right knee. Crawford had wrist soreness while throwing the ball as he prepared to begin a rehab assignment.

In the end, the team physicians recommended that Crawford have surgery. The procedure, which was intended to assist Crawford stabilize his wrist, was performed by Dr. Thomas J. Graham in July.

Crawford believed he could have rejoined the club by now if the wrist injury had not occurred.

“It’s been difficult,” Crawford remarked. Prior to this wrist incident, I was quite close to beginning a rehab assignment. I was scheduled to begin a rehab assignment the day before my final [bullpen]. It has been challenging. It’s been annoying.

However, I’m making every effort to get ready and put my body and mind in the best possible position for when I do take the mound once more.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora stated a week prior to Crawford’s surgery that the right-hander had sustained an off-field injury that would probably put an end to his season. Cora went on to say that Crawford’s actions were not the cause of the injury, and the pitcher’s remarks seemed to support that claim.

However, in recent years, the Red Sox have suffered from off-field ailments to its pitchers. When Chris Sale fell off his bicycle to get lunch, he shattered his wrist, ending his season. In 2013, Clay Buchholz missed three months of work because he had painful neck muscles from sleeping with his infant daughter in his arms.

Naturally, the Red Sox are not the only team that has seen a number of unfortunate injuries brought on by off-field issues. This season alone, Twins third baseman Jose Miranda hurt his hand while carrying a container of water, and Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman missed time after spraining his ankle in the shower.

Despite his strange injuries, Crawford is feeling hopeful about making a comeback in 2026. The Red Sox rotation would benefit from his belief that he would be ready for Opening Day and that his knee ailment won’t affect him again. In 2024, the 29-year-old helped Boston’s depleted rotation by leading the team in innings pitched (182 2/3) and recording a 4.36 ERA.

Crawford stated, “The knee is in a really good spot.” I’m really hoping that I won’t have any problems with my knee next year because it feels better than it has in probably three or four years.

All things considered, things are going well. The remainder of the body feels OK.