Former first-rounder Crowe feeding off Astros' energy

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Trevor Crowe, a former first-round Draft pick of the Indians, is in Astros camp this year as a non-roster invitee, trying to win a spot in the outfield. He's played parts of three Major League seasons with Cleveland, hitting .245 with 34 doubles, six triples, three homers, 55 RBIs and 29 steals in 205 games.

"I'm very excited," Crowe said. "The thing that gets me going is the guys we have in camp here. It's a great, young, energetic group. Our workouts so far have been awesome, and just the leadership of the coaching staff has been tremendous. It's been perfect."

Crowe says he's feeding off the youthful energy in the camp. He's not a veteran by any means, but at 29 years old is among the older group in camp.

"It's always a nice fit when you see guys come in with enthusiasm, with emotion," he said. "The teams I've been a part of in the big leagues have been younger, but the majority of the guys have experience and they have their defined roles. Here, a lot of situations are up for grabs, and the leaders are the younger guys. That doesn't mean your team can't be successful or have an impact. It's just a different situation."