Wil Crowe

William Chandler Crowe (born September 9, 1994) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Washington Nationals.

Wil Crowe
Crowe with the Washington Nationals in 2020
Pittsburgh Pirates
Pitcher
Born: (1994-09-09) September 9, 1994
Kingston, Tennessee, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 22, 2020, for the Washington Nationals
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Win–loss record10–21
Earned run average5.30
Strikeouts196
Teams

Amateur career

Crowe attended Pigeon Forge High School in Sevier County, Tennessee. The Cleveland Indians selected him in the 31st round of the 2013 Major League Baseball draft. He declined to sign, instead of attending the University of South Carolina, where he pitched for the South Carolina Gamecocks.

While at South Carolina, in April 2015, Crowe tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his right throwing elbow and underwent Tommy John surgery performed by Dr. James Andrews.[1][2] He spent the next two years rehabbing with fellow Gamecocks pitcher Cody Morris, who described Crowe as "a mentor" to him during the process even though Crowe had his elbow procedure just a month sooner.[3] Crowe made his return to pitching on June 1, 2016, starting the home opener for the Lexington County Blowfish and showing off a sharp slider and a fastball that reached 95 miles per hour (153 km/h).[4] The Indians again selected him in the 2016 MLB draft, using their 21st-round pick on him, but Crowe again did not sign, returning to South Carolina as a redshirt junior.[1]

Crowe led the Gamecocks in strikeouts while posting a 3.41 ERA across 92⅓ innings in 2017 before being drafted with the 65th overall pick by the Nationals in the 2017 MLB Draft, who were known for selecting amateur players who had previously had or needed to undergo Tommy John surgery.[5] Crowe received a $946,500 signing bonus from the Nationals, in line with the slot value of the selection.[6]

Professional career

Washington Nationals

After Crowe's signing, MLB Prospect Watch ranked him as the Nationals' sixth-best prospect,[7] with Baseball America listing him eighth.[8] Crowe made his professional debut with the GCL Nationals, and after giving up two earned runs in 3.2 innings, was promoted to the Auburn Doubledays, where he finished the season, posting a 2.61 ERA with a 1.02 WHIP in seven games started.[9] Crowe opened his season with the High-A Potomac Nationals in 2018 by winning eleven straight decisions,[10][11] earning a berth in the Carolina League All-Star Game.[12] He was promoted to the Class-AA Harrisburg Senators midway through the season, losing all five of his decisions at the higher level.[11] After the season, Crowe was named a co-Minor League Pitcher of the Year (with Ben Braymer) by the Nationals.[13]

In 2019, Crowe was invited to participate in his first major league spring training as a non-roster invitee,[14] giving him the opportunity to work with veteran Nationals pitchers Patrick Corbin, Max Scherzer, and Stephen Strasburg, something he described to The Washington Post as "like getting a PhD in pitching".[15] He was ranked before the season as the fifth-best prospect in the Nationals organization by MLB Pipeline, and the team's second-best pitching prospect behind Mason Denaburg.[16]

Crowe made his Major League Baseball debut on August 22, 2020, starting the second game of a doubleheader against the Miami Marlins.[17]

Pittsburgh Pirates

On December 24, 2020, the Nationals traded Crowe and Eddy Yean to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Josh Bell.[18] Crowe made 26 appearances (25 starts) for Pittsburgh in 2021, registering a 4-8 record and 5.48 ERA with 111 strikeouts in 116.2 innings pitched.

In 2022, Crowe pitched in 60 games for the Pirates, posting a 6-10 record and 4.38 ERA with 68 strikeouts and 4 saves in 76.0 innings pitched. On September 20, 2022, Crowe delivered a pitch that Aaron Judge hit for his 60th home run of the season, tying Babe Ruth for the second-most in New York Yankees history.[19]

Crowe made 5 appearances with the team to begin the 2023 season before he was placed on the 60-day injured list on April 29, 2023, with a right shoulder issue.[20] On July 19, Crowe was activated from the injured list and subsequently designated for assignment.[21] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple–A Indianapolis Indians on July 25.[22]

Pitching style

Crowe throws both four-seam and two-seam fastballs, reaching 94 miles per hour (151 km/h) as of 2018. He complements his fastballs with a changeup, curveball, and slider.[23] In his downtime, Crowe studies baseball analytics.[15]

Personal life

Crowe and his wife, Hilary, married in December 2018.[24] His great-great uncle is Red Ruffing, a Hall of Fame pitcher buried in Bedford Heights, Ohio.[19]

References
  1. Thomas, Chris (June 11, 2016). "Pigeon Forge graduate Wil Crowe drafted by Cleveland Indians in 21st round". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  2. White, Neil (April 28, 2015). "USC's Wil Crowe undergoes Tommy John surgery". The State. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  3. Wilson, Mike (February 11, 2017). "South Carolina baseball pitchers Wil Crowe, Cody Morris 'fed off each other' through Tommy John rehab". Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  4. Connolly, Matt (June 1, 2016). "Gamecocks star Wil Crowe shines in return to the mound". The State. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  5. Keeler, Ricky (June 13, 2017). "Washington Nationals take Wil Crowe with 65th pick in 2017 MLB Draft". District on Deck. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  6. Caraviello, David (June 29, 2017). "Gamecocks pitcher Wil Crowe signs with Nationals for bonus of $946,500". The Post and Courier. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  7. "2017 Prospect Watch". MLB.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2017. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
  8. Norris, Josh (July 24, 2017). "2017 Washington Nationals Midseason Top 10 Prospects". Baseball America. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
  9. "Wil Crowe Stats, Highlights, Bio – MiLB.com Stats – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  10. "Noll leads Potomac over Salem 6–1". Bristol Herald-Courier. June 13, 2018. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
  11. Kerr, Byron (December 28, 2018). "Nats top prospects: No. 5 – RHP Will Crowe". MASN Sports. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  12. Kerr, Byron (June 12, 2018). "Potomac nets six players on Carolina League All-Star squad". Retrieved June 13, 2018.
  13. Kerr, Byron (September 26, 2018). "Kieboom, Braymer, Crowe and Noll honored with Nationals minor league awards". MASN Sports. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  14. "Nationals' Wil Crowe: Reassigned to minor-league camp". CBS Sports. March 8, 2019. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  15. Dougherty, Jesse (March 23, 2019). "As their starters go, so go the Nationals". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  16. "2019 Prospect Watch". MLB.com. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  17. "Miami Marlins at Washington Nationals Box Score, August 22, 2020". Baseball Reference. August 22, 2020.
  18. "Nats acquire former All-Star Bell from Pirates". ESPN.com. December 24, 2020.
  19. Holmlund, Ted (September 21, 2022). "Pirate who gave up 60th HR to Aaron Judge is related to teammate of Babe Ruth". New York Post. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  20. "Pirates' Wil Crowe: Moved to 60-day IL". cbssports.com. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  21. "Pirates' Wil Crowe: Designated for assignment". cbssports.com. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  22. "Pirates' Wil Crowe: Outrighted to Triple-A". cbssports.com. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  23. Lusk, Lacy (April 8, 2018). "Offseason Regimen Pays Off For Wil Crowe". Baseball America. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  24. "Potomac Nationals' pitcher Wil Crowe at home with temporary living arrangements".
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