Red Sox reliever Garrett Whitlock pitched through leg fracture during season

Garrett Whitlock, a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, continued to play the latter part of the 2026 season while battling a fractured right tibia. Despite experiencing leg pain, Whitlock and the team's medical staff managed to keep him in the lineup as the Red Sox advanced to the playoffs. The severity of the injury was not identified until scans revealed the fracture during the postseason, following the team's elimination by the New York Yankees in the American League Wild Card round.

Whitlock will not undergo surgery but will need to wear a boot for six weeks and is anticipated to be available for spring training should the ongoing negotiations between the owners and players result in a regular season rather than a lockout, which is projected to occur when the current collective bargaining agreement expires on December 1.

Whitlock delivered a commendable performance during the regular season, posting a 1.72 ERA with 59 strikeouts over 52 1/3 innings. In Game 2 of the AL Wild Card, he surrendered three earned runs on three hits over 1 1/3 innings as the Yankees secured a 9-2 victory, ultimately clinching the sweep. The Red Sox have an $8.25 million club option on Whitlock for the 2027 season, and they will have a five-day window post-World Series to decide on the extension.