The Decade’s Best: No. 29 Aaron Crow

Aaron Crow
Falmouth 2007
Pitcher
Missouri

At the beginning of the summer of 2007, Aaron Crow found himself as a well-regarded but unheralded pitcher in a league full of big hitters.

By the end of the summer, he had made a bigger splash than all of them.

Crow came to the Cape after his sophomore season at Missouri. He made his first two appearances out of the bullpen, turning in good performances but not giving any indication of what was about to happen.

Then he became a starter, and the rest was history.

Flashing a high-90’s fastball, Crow quickly became a dominant and overpowering starter, which is saying something when you consider the competition. His Cape class featured the likes of Gordon Beckham, Jason Castro and Yonder Alonso.

At times, Crow was a bigger story then all of then. He finished the year with a modest 3-1 record, but nothing else was modest. His ERA was .67, he struck out 36 and he walked just nine. In 40.1 innings, he allowed only 19 hits.

And he was at his best when the lights were brightest.

Crow earned the starting nod for the West in the all-star game and authored the signature moment when he struck out the side in the first inning with overpowering stuff. The performance was so good, Crow was given the West’s All-Star MVP award — just for that one inning.

That showing undoubtedly stuck in the minds of scouts. Crow was awarded the league’s top prospect award, and Baseball America also tabbed him as the league’s best.

After the Cape

Crow was drafted by the Nationals with the ninth pick in the 2008 draft but he didn’t sign. After pitching in independent ball for a tuneup last spring, Crow got picked again in the first round in 2009, this time by the Royals at No. 12. Crow has signed with the Royals, but he hasn’t made a minor-league debut.

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