"How is a White Sox pitcher on there?" - Fans stunned as Garrett Crochet claims second spot in MLB strikeout race despite team's losing streak

Fans reacted as Garrett Crochet has emerged as strikeout leader after the All-Star break. The second half of the MLB season is underway, and the race for the postseason has started taking shape. With several teams in the hunt to make the playoffs, there have been a few standout performers, especially in the pitching department.

However, one name that has shocked MLB fans is Chicago White Sox starter Garrett Crochet. The White Sox ace flew under the radar for much of the first half of the season before teams started taking interest in the 25-year-old post the All-Star game last month.

Crochet has been one of the best starters in the division this year. The White Sox starter leads the America League in strikeouts and only trails his former White Sox teammate Dylan Cease, the strikeout leader, in MLB this season.

However, Crochet being one of the top-three pitchers for the most strikeouts this season caught the attention of MLB fans. That's because the White Sox have been the worst team this season and are on a record-setting 20-game losing streak.

"How is a white Sox pitcher on there?" wrote a fan in disbelief.

"Crochet is on a wrong team," chimed in another fan.

"Crochet won’t be on here much longer since he will quit," speculated fans after White Sox ace's contract demands.

Fans stunned by Garret Crochet's name on the list (Image source - IG)

Several other fans also wondered what would happen if Cease and Crochet were a part of the same rotation.

"Imagine if cease and crochet were on the same team," wrote a fan.

"Imagine what Cease, Crochet, and Reynaldo Lopez would do on the same staffs?" specualted another fan.

Fan reaction (Image source - IG)

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Garrett Crochet hits a roadblock against Minnesota Twins

Despite significant interest from big market teams in Garrett Crochet ahead of the trade deadline, the White Sox held on to their ace with two years of arbitration control remaining.

“Everything typically happens for a reason," Crochet said after the trade deadline ended. "I think that ultimately the right move was made, and here I am. (I'm) just going to focus on my next start (and) keep going from there."

However, Chicago has to deal with managing the 25-year-old's workload, as this is the most he has ever pitched in an MLB season since his debut in 2020.

They hit a roadblock in his latest start against the Minnesota Twins on Saturday as the Twins managed the pitch count, eventually leading to Garrett Crochet being pulled after four innings.