Walker Buehler joins a couple former Red Sox with rare jersey number choice

Buehler’s social media post announcing his jersey number was the first public comment he’s made about joining the Red Sox since he agreed to a one-year, $21.05 million deal with them on Monday. The team officially announced his signing Saturday morning.

As he picked to wear No. 0, Buehler will become just the third player in the Red Sox’ storied history to wear that number. Brandon Phillips became the first player to wear that number with the Red Sox, donning No. 0 during his brief stint in Boston in 2018. Three years later, reliever Adam Ottavino wore No. 0 during his lone year with the Red Sox.

Buehler previously wore No. 21 during his memorable stretch with the Dodgers. No player has worn that number for the Red Sox since Roger Clemens’s departure following the 1996 season.

In a now-deleted post on X, Buehler actually addressed Dodgers fans who might’ve received his old jersey over the holidays.

“The #21 jerseys unis you got today are still cool! I’m gonna wear a different one next year but I appreciate y’all rocking ‘em nonetheless!”

Buehler is looking to bounce back after a relatively rough season on the mound in 2024. After returning from Tommy John surgery, the righty went 1-6 with a 5.38 ERA over 16 regular-season starts.

There has been some hope, though, that the 30-year-old can get back to his All-Star pitching ways in 2025. He was a bit better in the final month of the season, going 0-2 with a 4.44 ERA in his starts during September and October. Following a bad start against the Padres in the NLDS, Buehler didn’t allow a run in his two starts between the NLCS and World Series. He also pitched the final inning of the Dodgers’ World Series-clinching victory against the Yankees.

Prior to his injury setbacks between the 2022 and 2023 seasons, Buehler had a four-year stretch where he was arguably one of the best pitchers in baseball. He posted a sub-3.50 ERA in each season from 2018-21, earning two All-Star nods and two top-10 Cy Young finishes over that time.

Buehler’s jersey number announcement wasn’t the only notable thing that happened with him on Friday. His horse, March of Time, won a race at Santa Anita Park. Buehler co-owns the horse with reported Red Sox free-agent target Alex Bregman.

Additionally, Buehler isn’t the only member of the Red Sox getting a new jersey number in 2025. Ceddanne Rafaela will wear No. 3 after wearing No. 43. David Hamilton will take Tyler O’Neill’s old number, 17, after wearing No. 70 last season. Nick Sogard will wear No. 20. He wore No. 72 last season.