Garrett Whitlock hasn't had many hiccups.
The rookie -- who came to the Red Sox through the sometimes awkward path of the Rule 5 Draft -- has dominated in his first month in the majors, not allowing a run in any of his 13 1/3 innings while striking out 18 and walking just two.
He has listened, learned and played the part to perfection ... as Red Sox manager Alex Cora recently pointed out when saying how everything -- down to how Whitlock has brought the beer on the team plane for the veterans -- continues to be meticulously on-point.
"We were saying how he's he perfect rookie," joked Red Sox pitcher Matt Andriese.
"I just try to be a good rookie," Whitlock said. "Everyone has a role to play on the team. I told (bench coach) Will (Venable) when I first showed up, ‘Shoot, I will be the janitor on this team if he means I get to be in the big leagues.’ Whatever the job is that I can do to possibly help the team out, that’s what I’m glad to be doing."
Talking to the media Friday afternoon, Whitlock explained where everything took a turn for the better. That crossroads just happened to arrive thanks to his lowest point, in 2019 when he underwent Tommy John surgery.
"I was definitely down," Whitlock revealed. "Before TJ I was in a bad spot mentally. I was angry at myself for not performing better, and stuff like that. That’s why I say Tommy John saved my life. It gave me a chance to realize my relationship with Jesus, my relationship with God is the most important thing`for me. It gave me a chance to step back and really look closely at that stuff and give me a whole new appreciation for the game. I told you guys in spring training, whether I’m playing in the GCL or fortunate to be up here, I’m going to be all of it. That’s the way I continue to go about it each day."
He added, "It definitely helped because mentality-wise and obviously spiritually it saved me. So for that I’m grateful for Tommy John."
Whitlock's newfound spirituality not only served him well during his rehab from surgery, but the uncertainty that came when switching from his original organization (the Yankees) to his new one (the Red Sox).
“At the veery beginning of the year, my church back home in Birmingham, Church of the Highlands, we did 21 days of prayer," Whitlock sam. "My whole thought process during that time of prayer, I told God, I said, if I can’t stay humble, don’t let me have it. Because, I’m not out here for me. This is a team sport. This what this is all about.
"It was bad for me before when I was in Double-A with the Yankees, and I was like, man, why am I not doing this? Why am I not doing this? Why am I not doing this? And it was just kind of a wakeup call. Hey, enjoy those around you. Kids all over the world would kill to be in your position right now. Just enjoy that. We’re here in Arlington right now, I just go out and look at the stadium, and I’m just so thankful for every aspect of this that we’re in. Whether I go out there and give up 10, yeah, I don’t want to do that for my team – yeah, I don’t want do that for my team – but if I go out there and give up 10 or I go out there and I give up zero, I’m still so fortunate to be in this game. That’s all I’m focused on.”
And, so far, the Red Sox are fortunate to have him.
