The San Francisco Giants drafted Reggie Crawford as a two-way participant, and to this point they’ve allowed the Thirtieth-overall decide within the 2022 draft to proceed to each pitch and swing the bat. How for much longer that would be the case stays to be seen, with the forthcoming season probably going a great distance towards figuring out a solution. Up to now, Crawford has had scant alternative to do both. Thanks largely to Tommy John surgical procedure, the 6-foot-4, 235-pound College of Connecticut product has logged simply 19 innings and 111 plate appearances (71 of them within the Arizona Fall League) since signing an expert contract.
Eric Longenhagen described the left-left hurler/first-baseman as “a prospect of utmost variance” and “nonetheless extra a developmental venture than anything” when assigning him a 40+ FV halfway by means of final summer time. That each his hitting and pitching potential issue into our lead prospect analyst’s evaluation makes Crawford arguably essentially the most intriguing younger participant within the Giants’ pipeline. If he performs capably on either side in 2024, he’ll be among the many most intriguing younger gamers in baseball.
Crawford mentioned his two-way aspirations within the closing week of the Arizona Fall League season.
———
David Laurila: To start out, I’m eager about your ideas on somebody you’ve been enjoying towards right here within the Fall League. Carson Williams was extremely considered a two-way participant in highschool, however has solely performed shortstop since Tampa Bay drafted him twenty eighth general in 2021. May you see him succeeding at each in professional ball?
Reggie Crawford: “Oh, I’d think about so. It simply comes right down to… I imply, for me the planning and the scheduling might be essentially the most troublesome half. Somebody who’s that athletic and has these units of instruments, I don’t see why he wouldn’t be capable to.”
Laurila: It’s one thing you’re feeling you are able to do?
Crawford: “Sure. The rationale I’m doing it’s as a result of I believe I might do it so long as I wish to. I’m simply placing myself in one of the best place for fulfillment. That’s all I can do. Regardless of the outcomes appear like is what they appear like. I’m going to proceed to provide it my all, give it my finest go.”
Laurila: When two-way gamers are instructed that they need to resolve on one or the opposite, a main cause given is the quantity of developmental work it takes at both place; making an attempt each is impractical. Do you agree with that?
Crawford: “I actually don’t assume so. I imply, when you take a look at what pitchers do, they don’t throw for hours or something like that. It’s about whenever you’re taking these reps, you’re profiting from them. You’re being conscious of what your physique is feeling and what you need it to really feel. That’s crucial factor.”
Laurila: Is conditioning for pitchers and place gamers all that totally different?
Crawford: “I wouldn’t say so. For a pitcher and a hitter, there’s not a lot totally different aside from one is throwing the pitch and different is making an attempt to hit it.”
Laurila: What concerning the work that’s finished in a pitching lab, and finding out your swing — the hitting analytics, principally — within the cage? These efforts take time.
Crawford: “You simply have to select and select the place you place your vitality. Some individuals could also be massive numbers individuals, and a few individuals will not be. So, studying your self — what you may deal with from the psychological facet — is the largest piece. It’s having the knowledge and sort of with the ability to reduce the road on it. It could be, ‘That is too many numbers for me.’ Or perhaps it’s, ‘I would like a bit of extra of the numbers.’”
Laurila: Are you massive into the numbers?
Crawford: “Probably not. Truthfully, for me it comes right down to outcomes. I wish to watch the sport, see the sport. As a pitcher, I wish to see what hitters are doing towards me, somewhat than be like, ‘All proper, I struck a man out, however what did my numbers appear like?’ I imply, there’s perhaps some stuff it is best to fine-tune, however when you’re exhibiting them, you’re exhibiting them.”
Laurila: That stated, have you ever been spending any time within the pitching lab, perhaps tweaking grips or slots so as to add extra vertical or horizontal?
Crawford: “We do stuff like that, however getting back from TJ it’s been extra like, ‘OK, we’re getting again into it, so let’s simply see the place my physique desires to go naturally and go from there.’ We do dig into the knowledge we get — we do implement it into on a regular basis coaching — however I don’t get too invested in it.”
Laurila: Has something felt notably totally different since coming again?
Crawford: “There have been issues like my arm slot eager to sort of fall right into a decrease slot that it was pre-TJ. The texture hasn’t been a lot totally different. It’s simply been some tendencies I picked up that I didn’t actually have previously and have needed to do away with. Little issues which have been fairly fast fixes.”
Laurila: What was your motion and velocity like this 12 months?
Crawford: “I solely threw about 19 or 20 innings — right here [in the Arizona Fall League] I’m solely hitting — and it sort of various relying on the sport. However I are likely to get plenty of run-ride with my fastball. That sort of relies upon, too. If I’m 0-2 and wish to throw one that basically rides up, I’ll launch it barely otherwise; I’ll get behind it extra, somewhat than pondering nearly like a sinker, though it’s the identical grip.”
Laurila: What concerning the velocity?
Crawford: “I believe I used to be as much as 100 [mph] this 12 months. I used to be sitting wherever from 5 to seven, some days from six to 9. It actually sort of relied on the day and what I wished to work on.”
Laurila: What’s in your repertoire moreover a fastball?
Crawford: “Curveball, slider, changeup.”
Laurila: We’ve ended up speaking extra about pitching than now we have hitting. That stated, do you have got a desire? As an illustration, if it’s important to decide one, which can it’s?
Crawford: “I can’t do this.”
Laurila: You’re a two-way man…
Crawford: “As of proper now. Yep.”
