Garrett Whitlock

Garrett Whitlock
Whitlock with the Boston Red Sox in 2024
Boston Red Sox – No. 22
Pitcher
Born: (1996-06-11) June 11, 1996 (age 30)
Snellville, Georgia, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
April 4, 2021, for the Boston Red Sox
MLB statistics
(through 2026 season)
Win–loss record32–16
Earned run average2.93
Strikeouts402
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  United States
World Baseball Classic
Silver medal – second place2026 MiamiTeam

Garrett Getts Whitlock (born June 11, 1996) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). Listed at 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 m) and 190 pounds (86 kg), he throws and bats right-handed.

Amateur career

Whitlock attended Providence Christian Academy in Lilburn, Georgia. As a junior, he posted a 1.95 earned run average (ERA) along with a .369 batting average. Not selected as a high school prospect during the 2015 Major League Baseball draft, he enrolled at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), where he played college baseball for the UAB Blazers. In 2016, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Chatham Anglers of the Cape Cod Baseball League. As a sophomore at UAB, he was 3–6 with a 4.07 ERA.

Professional career

New York Yankees

After Whitlock's sophomore year of college, he was selected by the New York Yankees in the 18th round of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft, and he signed with the team. He made his professional debut in 2017 with the Gulf Coast League Yankees where he posted a 1.04 ERA in three starts. He was promoted to the Pulaski Yankees in August, and ended the season there, pitching to a 7.94 ERA in 5+2⁄3 innings. He began 2018 with the Charleston RiverDogs, and was promoted to the Tampa Yankees and Trenton Thunder during the season. In 23 games (21 starts) between the three clubs, Whitlock went 8–5 with a 1.86 ERA, a 1.11 WHIP, and 122 strikeouts over 120+2⁄3 innings. He returned to Trenton for the 2019 season, pitching to a 3–3 record with a 3.07 ERA over 14 starts, striking out 57 batters in 70+1⁄3 innings. His season ended in early July, as he underwent Tommy John surgery later that month. He did not play a minor league game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic alongside still recovering from surgery.

Boston Red Sox

On December 10, 2020, the Boston Red Sox selected Whitlock in the Rule 5 draft. He made the Red Sox' Opening Day roster in 2021. On April 4, 2021, Whitlock made his MLB debut in relief against the Baltimore Orioles, striking out five batters and allowing no runs in 3+1⁄3 innings pitched. He earned his first major league win on June 5 after pitching a scoreless 1+2⁄3 innings in relief against the Yankees in New York. On June 15, Whitlock batted in an interleague game and recorded his first career hit, a single off of Atlanta Braves reliever Edgar Santana. Whitlock was placed on the injured list on September 21 with a right pectoral strain, and activated on October 3. For the 2021 regular season, Whitlock pitched 73+1⁄3 innings in 46 relief appearances, during which he went 8–4 with a 1.96 ERA and 81 strikeouts. In the postseason, he made five relief appearances, earning one win and allowing two runs in 8+1⁄3 innings as the Red Sox advanced to the American League Championship Series.

On April 10, 2022, Whitlock signed a four-year, $18.75 million extension with the Red Sox. He opened the season as a member of Boston's bullpen, then was added to the rotation in the second-half of April. Whitlock was placed on the injured list on June 10 with right hip inflammation, and reactivated by the team on July 15. He returned to the injured list on September 21 with a right hip impingement. In 31 appearances (nine starts), Whitlock posted a 4–2 record with six saves and 3.45 ERA while striking out 82 batters in 78+1⁄3 innings.

Whitlock began the 2023 season on a rehab assignment with the Worcester Red Sox, and was activated by Boston on April 11. He was placed on the injured list on April 28, due to right elbow ulnar neuritis, and rejoined the Red Sox on May 27. He was again placed on the injured list on July 4, with right elbow inflammation, and returned to the team on August 13. Whitlock was placed on the bereavement list on September 3, and activated on September 10. In 22 total games (10 starts) in 2023, he compiled a 5–5 record and 5.15 ERA with 72 strikeouts across 71+2⁄3 innings.

In 2024, Whitlock made four starts for Boston, recording a 1.96 ERA with 17 strikeouts across 18+1⁄3 innings pitched. On May 30, 2024, he underwent an internal brace procedure to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament, which ended his season.

Whitlock returned to Boston's bullpen for the 2025 season. He made 62 relief appearances and went 7–3 with a 2.25 ERA in 72 innings pitched.

For the 2026 season, he remained in the bullpen. On May 28, he was placed on the injured list after a left leg strain. On June 9, he was activated from the injured list. Whitlock was placed on the injured list for a second time on August 13 with right elbow inflammation, and returned to the Red Sox on August 29. He made 54 relief appearances for Boston and had a 7–2 record, a 1.72 ERA, and 59 strikeouts across 52+1⁄3 innings.

International career

Garrett Whitlock playing for Team USA March 2026

Before the 2026 season, Whitlock pitched for team USA in the World Baseball Classic, posting a 2.70 ERA, alongside a 0.90 WHIP, one save and five strikeouts across 3+1⁄3 innings pitched.

Personal life

Whitlock learned American Sign Language from his mother at a young age. Whitlock and his wife, Jordan, married in November 2019. Whitlock is a Christian.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Gwinnett baseball pair make college commitments | Sports". gwinnettprepsports.com. July 7, 2014. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  2. ↑ "#38 Garrett Whitlock – Profile". pointstreak.com. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  3. ↑ "3 UAB baseball players are MLB Draft prospects". AL.com. June 12, 2017. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  4. ↑ "UAB pitcher Garrett Whitlock drafted by New York Yankees". AL.com. June 14, 2017. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  5. ↑ "UAB pitcher Garrett Whitlock signing with Yankees". AL.com. July 3, 2017. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  6. 1 2 3 "Garrett Whitlock Stats, Highlights, Bio". MiLB.com. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  7. ↑ "Thunder, Fisher Cats postponed; Garrett Whitlock added to roster". Trentonian.com. August 4, 2018. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  8. ↑ Abraham, Peter (December 10, 2020). "Red Sox select righthander Garrett Whitlock from Yankees in the Rule 5 Draft". The Boston Globe. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  9. ↑ Adler, David (June 30, 2020). "2020 Minor League Baseball season canceled". MLB.com. Retrieved February 10, 2025.
  10. ↑ "2020 Rule 5 Draft results, pick by pick". MLB.com. December 10, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  11. ↑ Cotillo, Chris (March 26, 2021). "Garrett Whitlock, Boston Red Sox Rule 5 pick, makes Opening Day roster: 'His reaction was priceless,' Alex Cora says". MassLive.com. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  12. ↑ "Orioles vs. Red Sox". ESPN.com. April 4, 2021. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  13. ↑ "Red Sox vs. Yankees". ESPN.com. June 5, 2021. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  14. ↑ Cotillo, Chris (June 16, 2021). "Boston Red Sox notebook: Garrett Whitlock gets first MLB hit in front of friends, family; Eduardo Rodriguez 'needs to be more aggressive' as struggles continue". masslive. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  15. ↑ "Red Sox Roster & Staff – Transactions". MLB.com. Boston Red Sox. September 2021. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  16. ↑ "Red Sox Roster & Staff – Transactions". MLB.com. Boston Red Sox. October 2021. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  17. ↑ Phillips, Gary (October 17, 2021). "Boston Found a Top Reliever in the Yankees System. Blame Instagram". The New York Times. Retrieved November 23, 2025.
  18. 1 2 3 "Garrett Whitlock Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
  19. ↑ Polishuk, Mark (April 10, 2022). "Red Sox Extend Garrett Whitlock". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  20. ↑ @RedSox (June 10, 2022). "The #RedSox today announced the following roster moves:" (Tweet). Retrieved June 10, 2022 – via Twitter.
  21. ↑ Cotillo, Chris (July 15, 2022). "Boston Red Sox activate Nathan Eovaldi, Garrett Whitlock; Matt Strahm goes to IL with wrist injury". masslive.com. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  22. ↑ "Red Sox Roster & Staff – Transactions". MLB.com. Boston Red Sox. September 2022. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  23. ↑ "Red Sox Roster & Staff – Transactions". MLB.com. Boston Red Sox. March 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  24. ↑ "Garrett Whitlock Comes Off Injured List For Season Debut". rotoballer.com. April 11, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  25. ↑ "Garrett Whitlock lands on IL with elbow injury, Red Sox recall Brayan Bello". CBS Boston. April 28, 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  26. ↑ Cotillo, Chris (December 12, 2020). "Cotillo: How new Red Sox pitcher Garrett Whitlock carved path to Boston on Instagram". masslive. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  27. ↑ "Red Sox announce roster moves". MLB.com (Press release). Boston Red Sox. July 4, 2023. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  28. ↑ Connon, Sam (August 13, 2023). "Standout Boston Red Sox Pitcher Garrett Whitlock Finally Activated From Injured List". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  29. ↑ "Red Sox's Brennan Bernardino: Officially activated Sunday". CBS Sports. September 3, 2023. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  30. ↑ "Red Sox Announce Roster Moves". MLB.com (Press release). Boston Red Sox. September 10, 2023. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  31. ↑ Anderson, R.J. (May 21, 2024). "Red Sox pitcher Garrett Whitlock out for rest of 2024 season, will undergo elbow surgery". CBSSports.com. Retrieved February 10, 2025.
  32. ↑ Browne, Ian (January 11, 2025). "Whitlock returning to relief role for Red Sox: 'Let's go back to the bullpen, baby'". MLB.com. Boston Red Sox. Retrieved August 24, 2025.
  33. ↑ "Garrett Whitlock 2025 Game by Game Pitching Logs | Baseball Almanac". www.baseball-almanac.com. Retrieved June 9, 2026.
  34. ↑ "Red Sox bullpen led by Aroldis Chapman and Garrett Whitlock remains incomplete as Spring Training approaches". Boston Sports Journal. January 20, 2026. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
  35. ↑ "Red Sox's Garrett Whitlock: Placed on IL with knee inflammation". CBS Sports. May 28, 2026. Retrieved May 28, 2026.
  36. ↑ Smith, Christopher (June 9, 2026). "Red Sox roster moves: IF optioned to WooSox with Garrett Whitlock returning". masslive. Retrieved June 9, 2026.
  37. ↑ "Whitlock rejoins 'pen before twin bill; Olds optioned after strong debut". MLB.com. Retrieved October 3, 2026.
  38. ↑ Staff, The Athletic (November 22, 2025). "Red Sox's Garrett Whitlock announces he will play for Team USA in World Baseball Classic". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
  39. ↑ Leger • •, Justin (March 18, 2026). "Abreu, Anthony among Red Sox players who shined in World Baseball Classic". NBC Sports Boston. Retrieved June 1, 2026.
  40. ↑ "Garret Whitlock Welcomes Fans To Deaf & Hard of Hearing Night". twitter.com. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
  41. ↑ "Garrett Whitlock Met Wife Jordan Whitlock In A Laundry Room". mlbrun.com. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  42. ↑ "Zola Weddings". www.zola.com. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  43. ↑ Foust, Michael. "Red Sox players boldly proclaim their faith in Jesus during 'Faith & Family Night'". Heartlander News. Retrieved August 28, 2026.