2013 Scouting Report: Jonathon Crawford, RHP, Florida

Class: College Junior
Hometown: Okeechobee, Florida
Height/Weight: 6-1/205
Born:

photo courtesy of gatorzone.scout.com

Crawford burst onto the scene in 2012, emerging from the shadows of more heralded prospects, and leading the Gators run to the College World Series. His “one shining moment” came during Game 1 of the Gainesville regional, where he threw a no-hitter against Bethune-Cookman.

What Crawford does for an encore in 2013 could decide his draft fate.

The right-hander spent the majority of the season making Sunday and week-day starts for the Gators, who were loaded with Brian Johnson and Hudson Randall, not to mention former first-round pick Karsten Whitson. Crawford put together a decent season, making 14 starts while squeezing in five relief appearances. For a pitcher with only 3.2 innings of experience coming into the season, he sure showed impressive command, walking only 24 batters in a little under 80 innings.

Against SEC competition, Crawford was at his best, winning three of his eight starts and posting a sub-2.60 ERA.

If he fails to recapture his 2012 NCAA Tournament form, Crawford could find himself slipping on draft day. Lacking the experience of a Mark Appel or Ryne Stanek, he obviously doesn’t have the best command over his fastball or his breaking ball, the kind of command that would put him in the same class as the other top college arms.

As such, Crawford leads the second tier of college pitchers not named Appel, Stanek or Manaea.

Fastball: 89-94 mph
Slider: 81-87 mph
Curveball: 73-79 mph
Changeup: 75-80 mph

***Projected Draft Slot: Middle-to-Late First Round***

2013 stats:
2012 stats: 6-2, 3.13 ERA, 19 G, 14 GS, 77.2 IP, 73:24 K:BB
2011 stats: 0-0, 4.91 ERA, 5 G, 3.2 IP, 4:1 K:BB

Crawford tosses 7th No-Hitter in NCAA Tournament History

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