| Brandon Crawford | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Crawford at the2018 MLB All-Star Game | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Shortstop | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Born: (1987-01-21)January 21, 1987 (age 38) Mountain View, California, U.S. | |||||||||||||||||||||
Batted: Left Threw: Right | |||||||||||||||||||||
| MLB debut | |||||||||||||||||||||
| May 27, 2011, for the San Francisco Giants | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Last MLB appearance | |||||||||||||||||||||
| August 10, 2024, for the St. Louis Cardinals | |||||||||||||||||||||
| MLB statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting average | .249 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Home runs | 147 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Runs batted in | 748 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Teams | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Medals
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Brandon Michael Crawford (born January 21, 1987) is an American former professionalbaseballshortstop. He spent 14 seasons inMajor League Baseball (MLB), playing all but his last season for theSan Francisco Giants. Crawford playedcollege baseball for theUniversity of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He was selected in the fourth round of the2008 MLB draft by the Giants, and played his final season in 2024 with theSt. Louis Cardinals. Internationally, Crawfordrepresents the United States. In the2017 World Baseball Classic (WBC), he helped win Team USA's firstgold medal in a WBC tournament.
He made his MLB debut in 2011. He was the sixth player in MLB history to hit agrand slam in his first MLB game, and the first shortstop to hit a grand slam in anMLB postseason game. He is a three-timeAll-Star (2015,2018, and2021), four-timeGold Glove Award winner (2015–2017, and 2021), two-timeWilson Defensive Player of the Year Award winner (2012 and 2016), and won theSilver Slugger Award at shortstop in 2015. Crawford has played the most games at shortstop for the Giants in franchise history, and at the end of the 2022 season was 2nd of all active players in games played at shortstop.[1][2]
After 13 seasons with the Giants, Crawford signed with theSt. Louis Cardinals in 2024, where he spent one season before announcing his retirement on November 27, 2024.
Brandon Michael Crawford was born on January 21, 1987, inMountain View, California.[3] His family lived inMenlo Park before they moved toPleasanton when he was in elementary school. He grew up a San Francisco Giants fan, and his family purchased season tickets and a commemorative brick in Willie Mays Plaza outsideAT&T Park when the ballpark opened in 2000.[4]
Crawford attendedFoothill High School in Pleasanton, where he was a three-sport athlete: football, basketball, and baseball. He was the startingquarterback for the Foothill Falcons and graduated in the class of 2005.[5]
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Crawford attended theUniversity of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he was a physiological sciences major. He played baseball for theUCLA Bruins from 2006 to 2008 and helped lead the team to theNCAA Regionals in three consecutive seasons,[3] the first time in school history.[6] Crawford was named the team's MVP in 2006 and 2007, and was named to the All-Pac-10 Conference team in 2007.[3] In the summer of 2007, he played for theOrleans Cardinals of theCape Cod Baseball League.[7] He also played in theNorthwoods League for theMankato MoonDogs in 2005 before he attended UCLA.
He helped lead theUnited States national team to the title in the 2006International University Sports Federation (FISU) World Championship.[8]
TheSan Francisco Giants selected Crawford in the fourth round, with the 117th overall selection, of the2008 MLB draft, and he signed for a $375,000signing bonus.[3][9] Crawford started his first full season as a professional with the High–ASan Jose Giants in 2009. In 25 games, he hit .371 with six home runs and 17 RBI, good enough for aslugging percentage of .600 and 1.045OPS.[10] In May, Crawford was promoted to the Double-AConnecticut Defenders, where he spent the rest of the season, batting .258/.294/.365 with four home runs in 108 games.[10]
In 2010, Crawford opened the season in Double–A (now with theRichmond Flying Squirrels) and earned anEastern League mid-season All-Star nod,[11] batting .241/.337/.375 in 79 games before suffering a broken hand in early July, which sidelined Crawford for nearly two months. When he recovered, he was assigned back to San Jose for the remainder of the season. He was ranked the sixth-best prospect in the Giants' organization byBaseball America heading into 2011.[12]
In 2011, Crawford was invited tospring training but was set back by a broken finger suffered in the final week, and started the season in San Jose while he recovered.[13] There he batted .322/.412/.593 in 59 at-bats. With the Triple–AFresno Grizzlies, Crawford batted .234/.291/.327 in 107 at-bats.[14] In the AFL, he was named to the AFL All-Prospect Team.[14]
The Giants promoted Crawford to the major leagues for the first time on May 26, 2011, following injuries toBuster Posey,Mike Fontenot, andDarren Ford.[15] Crawford made his MLB debut on May 27 against theMilwaukee Brewers. His first MLB hit came in his third at bat of the game, and was agrand slam off the Brewers'Shaun Marcum. He joinedBobby Bonds andBrian Dallimore as the only Giants whose first career MLB hit was a grand slam;[16] he also became the sixth player in MLB history and the second player in Giants history along with Bobby Bonds to hit a grand slam in his first game.[17]
On July 31, the Giants optioned Crawford to their Triple-A affiliate, theFresno Grizzlies, after the Giants acquired shortstopOrlando Cabrera.[18] The Giants were 23–18 with Crawford as a starter, but he was hitting only .190.[19] Crawford was recalled in September when MLB rosters expanded to 40 players.[20]
In 2012, Crawford was named the team's opening day shortstop, in which he batted 8th in the lineup. He batted .248 with four home runs, 26 doubles, and 45 RBI in 143 games. On July 20, Crawford hit his second career grand slam and drove in 5 runs as the Giants defeated thePhiladelphia Phillies 7–2.[21] Crawford was praised for his defense during the 2012 postseason, which culminated in a 4–0 sweep of theDetroit Tigers in the2012 World Series.[22] Crawford ranked third among NL shortstops inDefensive Runs Saved at +12,[23] and was recognized with theWilson Defensive Player of the Year Award at shortstop.
Crawford was the Giants' starting shortstop for 2013, withJoaquín Árias as his backup. In 149 games on the year, he hit .248/.311/.363 with nine home runs and 43 RBI.
In 153 games, Crawford batted .246 and set career highs with ten home runs and 69 RBIs. On April 13, Crawford hit a tenth inning, walk-off home run againstRex Brothers of theColorado Rockies.[24] In the 2014 postseason, Crawford led all Giants with 9 RBIs. In the fourth inning of theNL Wild Card Game between the Giants andPittsburgh Pirates, Crawford hit a grand slam off ofEdinson Vólquez, becoming the first shortstop to hit a grand slam inMajor League Baseball postseason history.[25][26] Crawford batted .304 (7-for-23) with 4 RBIs in the2014 World Series, en route to his second championship with the Giants. In Game 7, Crawford drove in the second run for the Giants with a sacrifice fly and, along with second basemanJoe Panik, turned a critical double-play in the third inning.[27]
On January 27, 2015, the Giants and Crawford avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.175 million deal.[28] On May 16, Crawford hit his third career grand slam (fourth including the postseason) and drove in a career-high six runs againstMike Leake of theCincinnati Reds.[29] In May, Crawford led the team in RBIs,[30] and on July 1, Crawford set a new career-high with his 11th home run of the season.[31] On July 6, Crawford was voted by his fellow Major League players as a reserve for the2015 MLB All-Star Game.[32] On August 14 atAT&T Park, in an 8–5 win over theWashington Nationals, Crawford hit his 100th career double. On September 24 atPetco Park, Crawford hit his twentieth home run of the season off ofIan Kennedy, making him the fourth Giants shortstop in franchise history to reach the milestone, afterRich Aurilia,Alvin Dark, andTravis Jackson.[33]
Crawford set career highs in several offensive categories, batting .256 with 21 home runs, 84 RBIs, 33 doubles, and 130 hits. Crawford was the first Giants' shortstop to lead the team in home runs sinceBill Dahlen in 1905.[34] He won his firstRawlings Gold Glove Award[35] andSilver Slugger Award,[36] the first Giant to win both awards in the same year sinceBarry Bonds in 1997.[37]
After the 2015 season, Crawford and the Giants agreed to a six-year, $75 million contract through the 2021 season.[37] The deal covered Crawford's final two years of salary arbitration and first four years of free agency.[38] The contract includes a no-trade clause, meaning that Crawford has to give consent if he were to be traded.
April 8, 2016, Crawford hit a tenth inning, walk-off home run offJoe Blanton of theLos Angeles Dodgers in a game in which the Giants had been no-hit through 71⁄3 innings and recorded only two hits.[39] On August 8 atMarlins Park, in an 8–7 win over theMiami Marlins that went into extra-innings, Crawford hit a career-high in base hits and singles with seven and five respectively. His seven hits tied the NL record formost total hits in a single game, and was the first time this feat had been done sinceRennie Stennett in 1975. The seven hits were also a Giants all-time franchise record.[40] Two days later, Crawford met with Stennett at Marlins Park.[41]
For the 2016 season, Crawford increased his batting average to a career-best .275 in 155 games played. Along with teammateJavier López, Crawford won theWillie Mac Award, which honors the Giants' most inspirational player.[42] He was awarded his second consecutive Gold Glove Award after the season.[43]
On April 29, 2017, Crawford was placed on the 10-day disabled list due to a right groin strain.[44] In 2017, he batted .253/.305/.403 with 14 home runs and 77 RBI, and after the season he was awarded his third consecutive Gold Glove Award. He was the first shortstop to win three straight sinceJimmy Rollins (2007–09), and the first Giant sinceJ. T. Snow who won four in a row (1997–2000).[45]
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On June 27, 2018, Crawford hit awalk-off home run against the Colorado Rockies to win the game 1–0 for the Giants. Crawford became the first Giants player sinceSteve Decker in April 1991 to hit a walk-off solo homer to win a 1–0 game.[46] Batting .300 with ten home runs and 39 RBIs, Crawford was named the starting shortstop for the2018 MLB All-Star Game.[47] Crawford hit .193 in the second half, battling injuries throughout the second half. A left-handed hitter, Crawford had a higher batting average against left-hand pitching than right-hand pitching at .274. His average against right-hand pitching was .243.
For the season, he hit a .254/.325/.394batting line.[48] He had the slowest baserunning sprint speed of all major league shortstops, at 25.9 feet/second.[49]
In 2018, Crawford was the Giants team winner of theHeart & Hustle Award.[50] Crawford lost out on his fourth straight gold glove to Arizona Diamondbacks shortstopNick Ahmed.
Against the Rockies on July 15, 2019, he had five hits in six at bats including two home runs and a career-high eight runs batted in during the Giants' 19-2 victory. The eight RBIs tied the San Francisco team record held byWillie Mays andOrlando Cepeda. Crawford became the first shortstop in history to record five hits and eight RBIs in one game, and the first Giant to have at least two home runs and eight RBIs in a game since Willie Mays did it in 1961.
In 2019, he batted .228/.304/.350 with 11 home runs and 59 RBIs.[51][52]
In 2020 he batted .256/.326/.465 (the highest slugging percentage of his career) with eight home runs and 23 RBIs.[48] He had the slowest sprint speed of all major league shortstops, at 25.7 feet per second.[53]
On June 8, 2021, Crawford started in what was his 1,326th game playing shortstop for the Giants, passingTravis Jackson for the most games played at the position in franchise history.[2] On August 13, Crawford agreed to a 2-year extension worth $32 million through 2023.
In the 2021 regular season, Crawford batted .298(9th in the NL)/.373(10th)/.522 with 79 runs, 24 home runs, 11 stolen bases, and 90 RBIs (all career highs).[48] In 138 games he had 549 at-bats.[48] On defense, he had a .983 fielding percentage (third in the NL), and a 3.76 range factor/game (3rd).[48] At the end of the season, he was third of all active players in games played at shortstop, at 1,409.[48]
In Game 3 of the 2021 NLDS, Crawford made a leaping catch to preserve a crucial 1–0 lead for the Giants, which held to give the Giants a 2–1 series lead.
He won the 2021 National League Gold Glove Award at shortstop.[54][55] With four Gold Glove Awards he became tied with former first basemanJ.T. Snow for third-most in Giants history.[54]
He was named a 2021 Silver Slugger Award finalist.[56] He placed fourth in National League MVP voting.
In 2022 with the Giants he batted .231/.308/.344 in 407 at bats, with nine home runs and 52 RBIs, as on defense he led the NL in range factor per game at shortstop (3.88).[1] He was second of all active players in career games at shortstop (1,525).[1]
Following the offseason departure of fellow infielderBrandon Belt, Crawford became the longest tenured member of the Giants.[57] He made his first major-league appearance as apitcher with a scoreless ninth inning of relief in a 13–3 victory over theChicago Cubs on June 11.[58] In 2021, Crawford had mentioned his desire to eventually pitch in a big league game, although at the time managerGabe Kapler declined to allow it, citing Crawford’s extreme value at shortstop.[59] During the appearance, Crawford’s fastball reached 89.7 mph, a speed he matched in a bullpen session earlier in the season.[60] On July 7, he hit a two-run home run offAustin Gomber of theColorado Rockies, moving him into 6th place on the Giants’ San Francisco-era RBI leaderboard.[61] Crawford’s 2023 season included multiple trips to the 10-day injured list. His season finished with him setting career lows in batting average and on-base percentage, with a slash line of 0.194/0.273/0.314.[62]
Nearing the end of the season, speculation began to grow about Crawford’s future, not just within the organization but with regards to a potential retirement as well. In the latter half of a season in which he set offensive career lows, Crawford remained mute about his future within the sport.[63] On October 1, 2023, Crawford played in what many speculated could be his final game for the Giants, a 5-2 loss against the Los Angeles Dodgers.[64] Prior to the game, Crawford’s four children threw the ceremonial first pitches. Throughout the game, Crawford received standing ovations from fans, and was removed from the game by manager Kai Correa in the 9th inning, allowing him to walk off the field to one final standing ovation from the Giants fans. He went 0–4 that game.
After the season drew to a close, Crawford expressed his desire to remain with the Giants in any capacity, including significantly reduced playing time.[65] In response to the Cardinals offering Crawford a 1-year $2 million dollar contract, his agent Joel Wolfe reached out to the Giants to explore the possibility of Crawford returning to the team. However, President of Baseball OperationsFarhan Zaidi declined to guarantee him a roster spot, citing the difficulty in maintaining a club legend as a backup, instead inviting him to training camp as a non-roster invitee. Crawford referred to this as the “nail in the coffin” that led him to pursue other opportunities in the league.
Crawford finished his Giants career with the 7th most games played, 16th most hits, 8th most doubles, 17th most home runs and 12th most RBI in team history.[66]
On February 27, 2024, Crawford signed a one-year, $2 million contract with theSt. Louis Cardinals.[67][68] In 28 games for St. Louis, he slashed .169/.263/.282 with one home run and four RBI. Crawford was released by the Cardinals on August 20.[69][70]
On November 27, 2024, Crawford announced his retirement from professional baseball.[71]
Crawford representedTeam USA at the2017 World Baseball Classic. He appeared in eight games during the tournament, posting a .385 batting average and a 1.006 OPS.[72] Team USA would defeatPuerto Rico in the championship game, securing their first-everWorld Baseball Classic title.[73]
| Title | Times | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| National League champion | 2 | 2012,2014 |
| World Serieschampion | 2 | 2012,2014 |
| World Baseball Classicchampion | 1 | 2017 |
| Name of award | Times | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Lou Gehrig Memorial Award | 1 | 2022 |
| MLB All-Star | 3 | 2015,2018,2021 |
| Rawlings Gold Glove Award atshortstop | 4 | 2015,[74] 2016,[75] 2017[76] 2021[77] |
| Silver Slugger Award atshortstop | 1 | 2015[78] |
| Willie Mac Award | 1 | 2012[79] |
| Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Award | 2 | 2012,[80]2016[81] |
| Category | Times | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| Triples | 1 | 2016[82] |
On April 26, 2025 atOracle Park, the Giants organization, which ranged from alumni, coaches, executives, and former players, honored Crawford in a pregame ceremony. Crawford was also surrounded by his family. "Brandon Crawford Celebration Day" was broadcast live on local television onNBC Sports Bay Area.[83][84][85]
Crawford married formerUCLA gymnast Jalynne Dantzscher inKona, Hawaii, on November 26, 2011.[86] They have three daughters and two sons.[87][88][89] They reside inScottsdale, Arizona.[90]
Crawford is the brother-in-law of Olympic gymnastJamie Dantzscher. Crawford's sister Amy is married to pitcherGerrit Cole.[91] His sister-in-law, Jennifer Pippin (the sister of Crawford's wife), died in 2017 due to an asthma attack.[92]
Since 2017, Crawford has hosted the Crawford Family Charity Golf Tournament, raising funds for research to cure ALS.[93] In 2022, Crawford was named the recipient of theLou Gehrig Memorial Award.
The San Francisco Giants optioned rookie shortstop Brandon Crawford to Triple-A Fresno on Sunday to make room on the roster for new shortstop Orlando Cabrera.
Crawford hit .190 before he was optioned July 31, but the Giants were 23-18 during his two-month run as the everyday shortstop.
The Giants recalled Brandon Crawford, Emmanuel Burriss, Conor Gillaspie and Waldis Joaquin from Triple A Fresno with the expansion of the roster to 40.
