Florida Gators pitcher Jonathon Crawford helped make a name for himself by throwing a no-hitter in regional play as sophomore, but the starter has more than enough talent to warrant attention. There are questions whether the pitcher can stick as a starter, but he has high potential if he can stay in the rotation.
Crawford has a strong fastball/slider combination. Scouts are concerned with his command, but the right-hander does keep a high velocity late into games. Crawford had an inconsistent junior season, which will likely keep him out of the top 10 players selected in the draft.
The pitcher can return to Florida for his senior season if he feels like some extra time at the college level could improve his draft stock. Given his potential, however, Crawford seems unlikely to fall past the middle of the first round.
Vital statistics
| Jonathon Crawford | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pos | High School / College | Consensus Rank |
| RHP | Florida (junior) | Mid/Late 1st round (Cardinals) |
| B/T | Birthdate (age) | Height / Weight |
| R/R | 11/1/1991 (21) | 6'1" / 205 |
What they're saying
John Sickels, Minor League Ball: "Crawford...could become a number two starter if the changeup comes around.... I look at what Crawford is, and what I see is a reliever. Don't take this as your only opinion on him, but I just don't see a starter. "
Nick J. Faleris, Baseball Prospectus: "Crawford keeps a solid tempo and repeats his mechanics well, though the angles on his pitches can keep the ball on too hittable a path at times. He still lacks a consistent off-speed pitch but has made some progress with a change-up. "
Baseball America: "His fastball sits 92-96 mph at its best, and he holds that velocity deep into games. Crawford powers through a less-than-clean delivery and struggles to repeat his release point, so he fights his fastball command and doesn't consistently deliver his plus slider in the 82-84 mph range."