BOSTON — Boston Red Sox reliever Garrett Whitlock pitched through a fractured right tibia during the latter portion of the 2026 season, the 30-year-old told the Boston Herald, continuing to compete despite leg pain as Boston surged to the playoffs before being swept by the New York Yankees in the American League Wild Card round. The full extent of the injury was not revealed until imaging after the series, which ended with a 9-2 Yankees win in Game 2 to complete the sweep.
Whitlock said he and the team's medical staff worked to manage the pain and keep him available down the stretch. The fracture was confirmed only after the Wild Card exit, and he will not require surgery. He is expected to wear a boot for six weeks and should be ready for spring training if owners and players resolve the looming labor standoff expected to trigger a lockout when the collective bargaining agreement expires on Dec. 1.
The right-hander was highly effective before the diagnosis, posting a 1.72 ERA with 59 strikeouts in 52 1/3 innings this season. In his final outing, a relief appearance in Game 2 of the AL Wild Card, he allowed three earned runs on three hits in 1 1/3 innings as New York closed out the series.
Boston holds an $8.25 million club option on Whitlock for the 2027 season and will have five days after the World Series to make a decision. The team has not announced a formal timeline beyond the six-week immobilization period.