North Schuylkill High School alum Reggie Crawford smacked his first career professional home run on Friday night.
Crawford was assigned to the San Jose Giants (Single-A affiliate of San Francisco Giants) back on May 23 after spending time with the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League Giants-Black to start the 2023 season.
In the top of the 6th inning on Friday, with the Giants trailing Visalia Rawhide, 3-1, Crawford muscled an 0-2 pitch opposite field over the left field wall to tie the game.
Check out video of Crawford’s first pro homer from @MLBPipeline:
Crawford’s homer sparked a 5-run rally for the Giants, who’d go on to beat the Rawhide, 9-4. He finished the game going 2-for-5 with 3 RBI from the designated hitter position.
The Frackville native is pulling double duty with the Giants, playing as the team’s DH as well as pitching.
On the mound, he’s started 3 games but only gotten limited work in the very early stages of his career. Crawford’s pitched for the San Jose Giants on May 27, June 1, and June 6.
In those 3 starts combined, he’s gotten just 5-1/3 innings of work.
Over 3-2/3 innings in his first 2 starts for the Giants, Crawford allowed 4 hits but struck out 6. In his last start on the 6th, he allowed 3 earned runs, including 2 home runs, in just 1-2/3 innings. He did, however, strike out 4 in that game, bringing his season total to 10 Ks.
Friday’s game was just Crawford’s third as the DH for the Giants. He went 1-for-4 with a double in a June 4 game vs. Fresno Grizzlies.
The Giants are 36-19 and in first place of the 8-team California League’s North Division.
Crawford was the Giants 1st round draft pick (30th overall) in the 2022 MLB Draft.
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