His fastball in particular was excellent. It has solid vertical movement and great velocity with big extension. In 2025, the swinging strike rate was among the best in the league at 15.6%, while the ideal contact rate was a great 31.3%. His cutter was a reliable strike-getter and also limited hard contact.
Aroldis Chapman's historic season has occupied most of the discussion when it comes to the Red Sox bullpen. But Garrett Whitlock has been nearly as good, having pitched the most innings out of the pen and allowed just one earned run since the All-Star Break. But believe it or not, Whitlock still doesn't feel like he's "kicked the rust off" following last year's UCL surgery. (Peter Abraham, Boston Globe)
