Giants former 2-way prospect turned pitcher returns after two years … and homers
Giants 2022 first-round Draft pick and former two-way prospect Reggie Crawford reached Triple-A as a pitcher in 2024 but then missed more than two years due to injury. On Friday, he made his return to action … at the plate. And he homered.
The 25-year-old hasn't hit since the 2023 Arizona Fall League but is shifting his focus back to the plate as he begins a rehab assignment in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League coming off multiple shoulder surgeries. He also walked and struck out once in Friday's 7-2 win.
Crawford was a notable two-way collegiate prospect at UConn, where he led the Big East with 13 homers as a sophomore in 2021. But most evaluators saw his future on the mound, where he was a potential No. 1 Draft pick because of his size and stuff. Even after missing his junior season following Tommy John surgery, the Giants still drafted him 30th overall in 2022 because of his tremendous upside.
The 6-foot-4 left-hander's risk-reward profile has tilted more toward risk in pro ball, though, as he has not been able to stay healthy. Crawford dominated in 37 1/3 Minor League innings but missed time due to mononucleosis, an oblique injury and a lat strain -- and shoulder surgeries in 2024 and '25 sidelined him for the past 24 months.
The Pennsylvania native is strictly hitting for now, since setbacks to his shoulder have prevented him from getting on the mound. Still, he has displayed at least plus power in the past, which he made abundantly clear in a surprise return to action.