It has been a while since the Red Sox have had a top-of-the-rotation ace like Garrett Crochet.

Expectations for the big left-hander are understandably sky-high after Boston acquired Crochet from the Chicago White Sox over the offseason. With just one full season as a full-time starter under his belt, Crochet is already considered one of the game’s best starting pitchers.

When he takes the ball on Opening Day, it will be the first time since Chris Sale’s prime that the Sox have had a bona fide No. 1. If he pitches anywhere close to expectations, Crochet could find himself on a short list with the likes of Sale, Pedro Martinez and Roger Clemens by season’s end.

That sort of take isn’t exclusive to New England, either. The Athletic on Wednesday published its MLB starting pitcher rankings for the 2025 season, and Crochet landed at No. 6, firmly entrenched in the “Aces” category. One unnamed executive made an impressive claim about the southpaw, too.

“(Crochet) may be the best per-inning starter in baseball,” the executive told The Athletic.

Meanwhile, one scout said Crochet “only needs a bit more seasoning to reach the elite level,” and another argued, “I guess you can still say ‘prove it,’ but hard not to say he’s a (top-five) starter.”

The Athletic’s list, though somewhat arbitrary, does speak to the work chief baseball officer Craig Breslow did this winter to improve the starting rotation. Walker Buehler landed just outside the top 50 with an honorable mention as “The Playoff Hero,” while Brayan Bello cracked the list at No. 48.

One might argue Tanner Houck should have made the list, although that position might actually be slightly influenced by seeing the right-hander up close for his entire career.