| Aaron Crow | |
|---|---|
 Crow with the Kansas City Royals | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1986-11-10)November 10, 1986 (age 39) Topeka, Kansas, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| March 31, 2011, for the Kansas City Royals | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 28, 2014, for the Kansas City Royals | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 20–11 |
| Earned run average | 3.43 |
| Strikeouts | 208 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Aaron James Crow (born November 10, 1986) is an American former professionalbaseballpitcher. He pitched inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theKansas City Royals.
Crow was born on November 10, 1986, inTopeka, Kansas[1] to parents Kevin and Julie Crow.[2] Crow and his siblings—brother Travis and sister Jennifer—were raised in the small community ofWakarusa, Kansas, not far from Topeka.[2]Following his graduation fromWashburn Rural High School, Crow attended theUniversity of Missouri.
In his three years for theMissouri Tigers baseball team, Crow started 46 games, going 23–8 with a 3.27earned run average (ERA).
Spending time in both the bullpen and the starting rotation as a freshman, Crow earned his first career victory by throwing a complete game against Pepperdine, staving off elimination in the 2006 NCAA Regional.[3] Mizzou went on to win the regional, becoming the first #4 seed ever to win an NCAA Regional.[4]
As a sophomore, Crow went 9–4 with a 3.60 ERA, earning first-team All Big 12 honors.[5]
As a junior, Crow went 13–0 with a 2.35 ERA. He threw four complete-game shutouts and struck out 10.65 batters per nine innings. He was named the Big 12 Conference Pitcher of the Year.[6]
He won the Robert A. McNeece Award as the top professional prospect in the 2007Cape Cod Baseball League season while playing for theFalmouth Commodores.[7][8]
Crow was selected by theWashington Nationals in the first round of the2008 Major League Baseball Draft with the ninth overall selection. Negotiations stalled and Crow did not sign.[9] Crow signed with theFort Worth Cats for the2009 season.[10]
Crow was selected with the twelfth pick in the first round of the2009 Major League Baseball Draft by theKansas City Royals. Crow signed a contract with the Royals on September 15, 2009. To make room forDanny Duffy on the Double A Northwest Arkansas Naturals roster, Crow was demoted to High-A Wilmington on July 31, 2010.
Crow made his first major league appearance on March 31, 2011, which was Opening Day. He faced fourAngels batters, striking out three.[11]
On May 30, 2011, Royals managerNed Yost announced that Crow had been promoted to the team's closer position on a temporary basis to replace the strugglingJoakim Soria.[12] However, on June 6, Yost announced that Soria had earned the spot back.[13] Crow had no save opportunities in his brief stint as closer.
In 2011, Crow was selected to theAll-Star Game, although he did not play.[14]
On November 28, 2014, the Royals traded Crow to theMiami Marlins in exchange forBrian Flynn and Reid Redman.[15] Crow underwentTommy John surgery in April 2015 and missed the entirety of the season as a result.[16] He was non–tendered and became a free agent on December 2, 2015.[17]
On February 19, 2016, Crow signed a minor league contract with theChicago Cubs organization. He made three appearances for the rookie–levelArizona League Cubs as he continued to recover from surgery. Crow elected free agency following the season on November 7.[18]
On May 1, 2018, Crow signed with theAcereros de Monclova of theMexican League after sitting out the 2017 season. In 13 games for the Acereros, he compiled a 3.55 ERA with 8 strikeouts across12+2⁄3 innings pitched. Crow was released by Monclova on July 3.
On July 3, 2018, Crow signed with thePericos de Puebla of theMexican League. He made six scoreless appearances for Puebla, logging three strikeouts over6+2⁄3 innings of work. After the 2018, season, Crow became a free agent and retired from professional baseball.
Crow is asinkerballer with a heavy sinker at 94–97 mph. His main off-speed pitch, and most-used pitch against right-handed hitters, is aslider at 85–88. He also has afour-seam fastball. Against left-handed hitters, he throws a small amount ofcurveballs andchangeups. The majority of his 2-strike pitches are sliders, owing to its 49%whiff rate.[19]
· ESPN · Baseball Reference · Fangraphs · Baseball Reference (Minors) · Retrosheet · Baseball Almanac
