There's more to Garrett Crochet, the Chicago White Sox's No. 11 pick, than a 100 mph fastball � just ask his high school and college coaches

Tennessee baseball coach Tony Vitello figured Garrett Crochet's season was over.

A line drive back to the mound hit the left-hander in the face during a May 17, 2019, game against Mississippi.

"Next thing you know, he wants to go back in that game," Vitello said in a phone interview. "It wasn't just, 'Hey, give me a couple of weeks and I'll be ready.' It was he was considering going back in that game."

Crochet exited with a broken jaw that required surgery and metal plates to be inserted. But two weeks later, he returned to pitch twice for the Volunteers in the NCAA Tournament.

In his first outing back on June 1, Crochet pitched 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief to earn the win against UNC Wilmington. It was the program's first NCAA Tournament victory since 2005.

"It speaks to some toughness," Vitello said. "Garrett is a kid that wants the ball and wants to be the guy in crunch time."

That drive is one reason the Sox selected Crochet with the No. 11 overall pick last week in the first round of the MLB amateur draft.

And the 6-foot-6 hurler has drawn comparisons to former Sox ace Chris Sale. Crochet has a fastball that's been clocked at 100 mph, a wipeout slider and a changeup.

"He's an extraordinary talent," said Sox director of amateur scouting Mike Shirley in a Zoom call.