Aaron James Crow...attended Washburn Rural High School and was an all-state selection as a senior. Pitched at University of Missouri where he was Big 12 Pitcher of the Year and a Golden Spikes Award finalist in 2008 after going 13-0 with a 2.35 ERA and 127 strikeouts in 15 starts...also named to Louisville Slugger All-America First Team and a semi-finalist for the Dick Howser Trophy and Roger Clemens Award...inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame at the University of Missouri in February, 2014...pitched in 2008 and 2009 for the Fort Worth Cats of the independent American Association.
2014
Posted 6-1 record and 4.12 ERA (59.0 IP/27 ER) in 67 appearances with one of American League's most potent bullpens in Kansas City...In 43 games prior to All-Star Break, went 5-1 with one save (three opportunities) and a 2.75 ERA (39.1/12). Following break, went 2-0 with two saves (three opps) and 6.86 ERA (19.2/15) in 19 appearances...Second-half struggles saw demotion to Double-A Northwest Arkansas on August 27. In two outings with Naturals, went 1-0 with 3.00 ERA (3.00/1), earning win in first appearance, Aug. 28 at Tulsa. Recalled by KC on September 2...Didn't allow earned run over first 19 appearances with Royals, spanning 17.0 innings...Allowed three earned runs in each of next two outings: May 18 vs. Baltimore (0.1 IP) and May 20 vs. White Sox (0.1 IP)...Took loss on April 13 at Minnesota, surrendering two unearned runs. Finished out season in midst of career-best six-game winning streak...Tossed season-high 2.0 innings on May 24 at Angels. Only five of 67 appearances spanned more than 1.0 inning...Of 67 appearances, 51 were scoreless...Performed markedly better on road, posting 2.53 ERA (32.0/9) and .212 average against compared to a 6.00 ERA (27.0/18) and .269 average at home.
2013
Aaron completed his third full season in the KC bullpen...recorded 19 holds, tying his career high from 2012. Finished tied for second among A.L. relievers with seven wins, collecting all of them between June 1 and July 28. Posted five wins in June, becoming the third Royals reliever to win five games in a calendar month...tied the overall club record for June victories. Held opponents to a 1.54 ERA over 23.1 innings from June 1 to August 13 (4 ER). Allowed 22-of-57 first hitters to reach (38.6%)...entered the year with a career 25.4% mark in first-batter situations.
2012
Aaron followed up his strong rookie campaign with a good sophomore season...tied with Kelvin Herrera for the
team lead with 19 holds...Crow cut his walk ratio from 4.5 per 9.0 innings in his rookie year (31 in 62.0 IP) to 3.06 in 2012 (22 walks in
64.2 IP)...Held left-handed hitters to a .188 (16-for-85) average with just 2 doubles and 2 home runs...Pitched a scoreless seventh inning on April 10 at Oakland and then earned his first career save after the game was
called in the eighth due to rain.
2011
Aaron spent his entire rookie season with the Royals, making 57 relief appearances and posting a 2.76 ERA...Earned his first Major League win on April 2 vs. Los Angeles...Tied a Royals record opening his career with 13 consecutive scoreless outings (15.1 IP), equaling former pitching
coach Bob McClure (1975-76)...also retired the first batter in each of the 13 outings...Crow and McClure are two
of 12 Major League pitchers since 1919 to not allow a run in his first 13 big league appearances (research by Tom
Orf)...Named Royals Pitcher of the Month for April in his first month in the big leagues, going 2-0 and tossing 12.1
scoreless innings...His 0.76 ERA (2 earned runs in 23.2 innings) over his first 20 career appearances was the best-ever in club history...Crow represented the Royals at the All-Star Game in Phoenix, but did not play...he was the fourth rookie in franchise
history to make an All-Star team and the first in MLB from the 2009 draft class to reach the Mid-Summer Classic...Struggled some following the break, recording a 4.34 ERA in 21 appearances with a .313 BAA...had a 2.08 ERA
at the break with a .197 opponent batting average.
2010
Struggled in his first professional campaign, opening the season at NW Arkansas (AA) before making 7 starts for
Wilmington (A Advanced).
2009
Did not appear in a minor league game after signing with the Royals on September 17...Pitched in the instructional league in Surprise (Ariz.) and then joined the Surprise Rafters in the Arizona Fall
League, making four starts and compiling a 0-2 record with a 5.87 ERA...tossed 4.0 scoreless innings in his fi nal
start on November 14 vs. Scottsdale, allowing 1 hit, striking out 4 and issuing no walks...Entering 2010, was rated by Baseball America as having the Best Fastball and Best Slider in the Royals system...
also was listed as MLB.com's 41st-best prospect in baseball.
