Future Games Team Mid-Atlantic Spotlight: Preston Crowl

VA/DC Scout Blog

The velocity was down just a touch from last week, was up to 89 versus Botetourt. I was interested to see how Crowl was going to navigate a solid, experienced top half of the Byrd order with maybe his "B" stuff. He was strong. He allowed more contact and found himseld in tougher situations than he did last week and battled through it all. As noted last week Crowl has four secondary pitches to go with the fastball, and while none of those offspeed pitches are elite right now, he shows the ability to throw all of them for strikes which is rare for his age. Each pitch offers a slightly different speed, spin, shape and it allows Crowl to navigate through lineups deeper into the game and keeps hitters off balance. The fastball was a touch more scattered tonight, but there were multiple times where he was in a hitter's count and he threw offspeed. On one occasion he was facing one of their better middle of the order hitters with two runners on and a full count. The pitch before was a fastball and was fouled off. Crowl came back to the breaking ball again and froze the hitter for strike three and it ended the inning and Byrd threat. Crowl competes from his first pitch to his last and controls his emotions throughout the outing. Seems to handle himself with maturity and poise on the mound. 

VA/DC Scout Blog

Crowl has an athletic frame with room to fill out. Listed at 6-foot and 175-pounds with projection left. Crowl has a fairly low effort delivery. The arm swing is long and wraps it a bit behind him. Higher three-quarter arm slot and created plane with the fastball when down in the zone. Was able to pitch at both ends of the zone and was more control than command with all 3+ pitches. The fastball sat 86-89 mph from the full in the first inning. While working from the stretch Crowl stayed between 83-86 mph. The fastball velocity faded in the 4th-5th innings and was more 83-85 touching 86-87 on occasion. Showed multiple offspeed pitches. The curveball had a bigger gradual 12/6 shape at 67-70 mph with feel for the zone. The slider, which he did not use a ton, showed best shape and speed at 72-74 mph with late depth. Also showed feel for a changeup that he got a few swings and misses on at 74-76 mph. The fifth pitch was a knuckleball that he threw a few times for strikes and got swings and misses on as well. That pitch sat between 68-70 mph with some tumbling action. At the plate he hits from a square stance with a bigger stride forward landing on line. Hands load to a slight bat wrap and a level path to contact. Front side is soft and hands finish across with the barrel getting out of the zone quick. Barreled up a ball to right field in his first at bat that was ran down by the right fielder who made a nice diving catch. Reached on an error later on and then had a two RBI double into left center in the fifth inning that would extend the Franklin lead. Shows some feel for the barrel and did a nice job getting the hands in on the double. Right now arm first, but shows some easy doubles power with potential for more.