Perhaps more importantly, Crochet’s decision sends a message to the fans and to the front office. It’s hard for a pitcher to be the face of a team, but with Rafael Devers gone and Roman Anthony still in his professional infancy, Crochet is the guy right now in Boston. His decision declares that he’s putting winning this year first.

With an xERA of 3.12, the performance has helped back the impressive results that have made Mize one of baseball’s most compelling comeback stories.