SF Giants 2022 first-round pick set to make pitching debut on Saturday
The SF Giants and their fans will finally get to see 2022 first-round pick Reggie Crawford (Giants #12 prospect) pitch in an official minor league game this weekend, according to a report by Evan Webeck of the Bay Area News Group. Crawford, who was selected with the 30th overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft out of UCONN, underwent UCL surgery in the fall of 2021 and has been slowly working his way back to full health. Drafted as a two-way player, Crawford has only appeared in minor league games as a designated hitter up to this point but is considered a better prospect on the mound as a left-handed pitcher.
Crawford has pitched in multiple games at the Arizona Complex League, showcasing his potentially elite two-pitch mix. At his best as a collegiate prospect, Crawford's fastball sat in the high-90s and even reached 100 mph alongside a slider that flashed plus potential. While the publicly available information regarding his stint at the complex is limited, Crawford's fastball has continued sitting in the high 90s, around 96-98 mph. Prior to the season, GBI ranked Crawford's fastball as the best in San Francisco's farm system.
While the Giants have remained committed to developing Crawford, who hit .309/.362/.546 with 14 home runs in 290 plate appearances at UCONN, as a two-way player, they are clearly prioritizing his development on the mound. Giants farm director Kyle Haines told Susan Slusser of The San Francisco Chronicle that he will receive opportunities as a designated hitter between starts. Crawford hit .200/.263/.286 with a home run, three walks, and 17 strikeouts in 38 plate appearances last season in the Arizona Complex League.
A combination of factors, including the cancellation of the 2020 NCAA baseball season, limited Crawford to just eight innings pitched during his college career. So, the Giants would have already been inclined to limit his workload in his first full professional season. However, coming off major surgery alongside such a short track record, it would not be shocking to see Crawford limited to 50 innings during the minor league season, perhaps receiving an opportunity to play more at the Arizona Fall League.
The SF Giants have already assigned Reggie Crawford to Single-A San Jose, where he started on Wednesday at designated hitter. He finished his first game of full-season ball 0-for-4 with a strikeout. Nevertheless, Crawford will make his professional debut on the mound this Saturday when fans should get their first look at his high-octane stuff.
