Boston Red Sox pitcher Garrett Whitlock says he played the latter portion of the 2026 season with a fractured right tibia.
Whitlock told the Boston Herald that he kept pitching despite leg pain, and he and the team's medical staff worked to keep the 30-year-old competing as the team surged to the playoffs.
The extent of the injury was not known until the Red Sox were swept by the New York Yankees in the American League Wild Card round when imaging was done on his leg.
Whitlock will not need surgery on his leg, but he'll have to wear a boot for six weeks and should be ready for spring training if the owners and players resolve their issues, which is expected to lead to a lockout when the collective bargaining agreement expires on Dec. 1.
Whitlock
had a 1.72 ERA with 59 strikeouts in 52 1/3 innings this season. In 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 the Yankees won 9-2 to complete the series sweep.
Boston has an $8.25 million club option on Whitlock for the 2027 season and will have five days after the World Series to decide on the deal.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Red Sox reliever Garrett Whitlock pitched through leg fracture during season
