Hubbry Logo
Aaron CrowAaron CrowMain
Open search
Aaron Crow
Community hub
Aaron Crow
logo
8 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Aaron Crow
Aaron Crow
Aaron Crow
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

Aaron James Crow (born November 10, 1986) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He pitched in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals.

Key Information

Early life

[edit]

Crow was born on November 10, 1986, in Topeka, Kansas[1] to parents Kevin and Julie Crow.[2] Crow and his siblings—brother Travis and sister Jennifer—were raised in the small community of Wakarusa, Kansas, not far from Topeka.[2] Following his graduation from Washburn Rural High School, Crow attended the University of Missouri.

College career

[edit]

In his three years for the Missouri Tigers baseball team, Crow started 46 games, going 23–8 with a 3.27 earned 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 2007 Cape Cod Baseball League season while playing for the Falmouth Commodores.[7][8]

Professional career

[edit]

Crow was selected by the Washington Nationals in the first round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft with the ninth overall selection. Negotiations stalled and Crow did not sign.[9] Crow signed with the Fort Worth Cats for the 2009 season.[10]

Kansas City Royals

[edit]

Crow was selected with the twelfth pick in the first round of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft by the Kansas City Royals. Crow signed a contract with the Royals on September 15, 2009. To make room for Danny 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 four Angels batters, striking out three.[11]

On May 30, 2011, Royals manager Ned Yost announced that Crow had been promoted to the team's closer position on a temporary basis to replace the struggling Joakim 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 the All-Star Game, although he did not play.[14]

Miami Marlins

[edit]

On November 28, 2014, the Royals traded Crow to the Miami Marlins in exchange for Brian Flynn and Reid Redman.[15] Crow underwent Tommy 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]

Chicago Cubs

[edit]

On February 19, 2016, Crow signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs organization. He made three appearances for the rookie–level Arizona League Cubs as he continued to recover from surgery. Crow elected free agency following the season on November 7.[18]

Acereros de Monclova

[edit]

On May 1, 2018, Crow signed with the Acereros de Monclova of the Mexican League after sitting out the 2017 season. In 13 games for the Acereros, he compiled a 3.55 ERA with 8 strikeouts across 12+2⁄3 innings pitched. Crow was released by Monclova on July 3.

Pericos de Puebla

[edit]

On July 3, 2018, Crow signed with the Pericos de Puebla of the Mexican League. He made six scoreless appearances for Puebla, logging three strikeouts over 6+2⁄3 innings of work. After the 2018, season, Crow became a free agent and retired from professional baseball.

Pitching style

[edit]

Crow is a sinkerballer with a heavy sinker at 94–97 mph. His main off-speed pitch, and most-used pitch against right-handed hitters, is a slider at 85–88. He also has a four-seam fastball. Against left-handed hitters, he throws a small amount of curveballs and changeups. The majority of his 2-strike pitches are sliders, owing to its 49% whiff rate.[19]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Aaron Crow

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Aaron James Crow (born November 10, 1986) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. Crow played college baseball for the at the . Selected by the in the first round (12th overall) of the , he made his MLB debut with the Royals in 2011 and appeared in 119 games for the team through 2014. He later played for the in 2015 and the Chicago Cubs in 2016. After his MLB career, Crow competed in the Mexican League for the and .

Early life

Family and upbringing

Aaron Crow was born on November 10, 1986, in Topeka, Kansas, to parents Kevin and Julie Crow. His father worked for the state of Kansas, while his mother was a nurse. Crow was raised in the small community of Wakarusa, Kansas, located just outside Topeka, alongside his brother Travis and sister Jennifer.

High school career

Aaron Crow attended Washburn Rural High School in , where he developed his skills as a and graduated in 2005. During his senior year, Crow was selected as an All-State , recognizing his standout performance on the . Washburn Rural High School maintained a reputation as a powerhouse in athletics in during Crow's time there.

College career

University of Missouri

Aaron Crow enrolled at the in 2006 after earning All-State honors as a senior at Washburn Rural High School in , which contributed to his recruitment by the Tigers baseball program. As a freshman in 2006, Crow appeared in 19 games, making 13 starts, and posted a 1–4 record with a 4.06 over 77.2 , recording 60 strikeouts. In his season of 2007, he emerged as the Friday night starter for the , leading the team in wins (9), games started (18), (117.2), and strikeouts (90) while finishing with a 9–4 record and a 3.59 , which ranked 11th in the . That summer, Crow played for the in the , where he went 3–1 with a 0.67 in 40.1 innings over eight appearances, striking out 36 batters and earning recognition as a top professional prospect. Crow's junior year in 2008 marked his most dominant performance, as he achieved a perfect 13–0 record with a 2.35 across 15 starts and 107.1 , including four complete-game shutouts and a team-high 127 strikeouts (10.65 per nine ). Over his three seasons with the from 2006 to 2008, Crow made 46 starts, compiling a 23–8 record and a 3.27 .

Awards and draft

During his time at the , Aaron Crow earned significant recognition for his pitching prowess. In 2008, he was named the Big 12 Pitcher of the Year by the conference, highlighting his dominant performance that season. Earlier, in the summer of 2007, while playing for the in the , Crow received the Robert A. McNeece as the top professional prospect in the league. Crow's college achievements led to early interest from teams. In the 2008 MLB Draft, he was selected ninth overall in the first round by the , marking the highest draft position for a Missouri player at the time; however, he did not sign with the team due to unsuccessful contract negotiations. Following this, Crow opted to play independent professional baseball with the Fort Worth Cats of the American Association in 2009. His strong statistical performance at Missouri continued to bolster his draft stock, contributing to renewed attention from MLB clubs. In the 2009 MLB Draft, Crow was again taken in the first round, this time twelfth overall by the . He signed a three-year major league contract with the Royals on September 17, 2009, officially transitioning to affiliated professional baseball.

Professional career

Kansas City Royals

After being selected by the in the first round of the 2009 MLB Draft, Aaron Crow signed with the organization on September 15, 2009. He did not appear in minor league games for Royals affiliates that year but began his professional progression in 2010, starting at where he posted a 2-3 record with a 5.93 over 44 and 53 strikeouts. Promoted to Double-A midseason, Crow recorded a 7-7 mark with a 5.66 in 119.1 , striking out 90 batters while demonstrating durability in his transition to starting duties. Crow earned a spot in the Royals' Opening Day bullpen and made his MLB debut on March 31, 2011, against the , entering in relief of starter and allowing no hits over 1.1 scoreless innings. As a reliever that season, he appeared in 57 games, compiling a 4-4 record, 2.76 ERA, and 65 strikeouts in 62 innings, earning selection to the team as the Royals' lone representative. Over his four full MLB seasons with the Royals from 2011 to 2014, Crow established himself as a reliable middle reliever, appearing in 254 games exclusively out of the with a cumulative 20-11 record, 3.42 , and 208 strikeouts in 233.2 . His yearly performances included a strong 2012 with a 3-1 record and 3.48 across 73 outings and 64.2 , tying teammate for the team lead with 19 holds; in 2013, he added another 19 holds while going 7-5 with a 3.38 in 57 games and 57.1 . Crow's consistency helped stabilize the Royals' during those years, though his strikeout rate declined slightly in later seasons. On November 28, 2014, the Royals traded Crow to the in exchange for left-handed Brian Flynn and minor league right-hander Reid Redman.

Miami Marlins

On November 28, 2014, the acquired right-handed reliever Aaron Crow from the in exchange for left-handed Brian Flynn and minor league right-hander Reid Redman. The trade came after Crow's reliable 2014 season with the Royals, where he posted a 6-1 record with a 4.12 over 67 relief outings. Crow's time with the Marlins was cut short by early in . An MRI in late March 2015 revealed a tear in his , leading to the decision for surgery. He underwent the procedure on April 8, 2015, performed by Dr. James Andrews, which sidelined him for the entire season. As a result, Crow made no Major League appearances for the Marlins and spent the year focused on rehabilitation. On December 2, 2015, the Marlins non-tendered him, granting free agency ahead of the arbitration deadline.

Chicago Cubs

On February 19, 2016, Aaron Crow signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs organization, providing an opportunity to continue his recovery and pursue a return to following his time with the . Crow's tenure with the Cubs was limited due to ongoing arm issues stemming from Tommy John surgery performed in April 2015 during his Marlins stint. He made three appearances for the rookie-level Arizona League Cubs between June 20 and June 25, 2016, pitching 3.0 scoreless innings across two starts and one relief outing, allowing two hits and two strikeouts with no walks. Despite these clean outings, Crow did not advance to higher levels within the organization and remained sidelined for the rest of the season. On November 7, 2016, the Cubs granted Crow free agency after he failed to earn a spot on the Major League roster or secure further advancement in the minors. Crow sat out the entire season, continuing to deal with arm-related complications that prevented any professional play.

After sitting out the season, Aaron Crow signed with the of the Mexican League on May 1, 2018. Crow appeared in 13 games as a reliever for , compiling a 3.55 with 8 strikeouts over 12 2/3 . This role in the represented Crow's effort to regain form following arm injuries from his MLB tenure that had diminished his velocity.

Pericos de Puebla

In July 2018, following his release from the earlier that season, Aaron Crow signed with the of the Mexican League. Crow appeared in six relief outings for the Pericos, delivering 6⅔ scoreless innings with three strikeouts, demonstrating a short resurgence in effectiveness during the league's autumn campaign. However, his velocity had declined to 86–87 mph, a notable drop from his major league peaks in the low 90s. After the 2018 season concluded, Crow retired from at age 31, attributing the decision to his diminished and a wish to focus on family life with his wife, Sara, whom he had married the previous year.

Pitching style

Primary pitches

Aaron Crow relied primarily on a two-seam sinker as the of his pitching arsenal, establishing him as a sinkerballer during his MLB tenure. Thrown at an average of 94 mph with a usage rate of 40.4% across his career, the sinker featured significant armside run and sink, helping to generate ground balls at a career clip of 49.2%. Complementing the sinker was his , serving as the main off-speed offering and thrown 38.3% of the time at an average of 84.3 mph. The pitch exhibited sharp, late break with exceptional depth, proving effective against both left- and right-handed batters; in his first two MLB seasons (2011–2012), opponents whiffed on over 50% of swings against it. Crow occasionally incorporated a , averaging 93.8 mph and used 18.7% of the time to provide straight-line and occasional in counts. He also threw a sparingly at 85.9 mph (1.2% usage), deploying it selectively against left-handed hitters to disrupt timing with armside fade and subtle sink.

Pitching

Aaron Crow employed an overhand delivery characterized by a relatively compact arm action, which facilitated quick releases ideal for his role as a . This mechanical profile allowed for efficient energy transfer from his lower body through his core, enabling consistent in short bursts without the demands of starting. Scouts noted some effort in his delivery, but the compactness helped maintain by minimizing telltale signs in his motion. Prior to his major injuries, Crow's supported reliable velocities in the low-to-mid 90s mph range, with his sinker and benefiting from the clean path generated by his arm slot. However, following surgery in April 2015 to repair a torn in his throwing elbow, and subsequent shoulder injury, his delivery underwent adaptations that compromised his power. These changes, including reduced arm speed to protect the repaired structures, led to a significant decline, dropping to the mid-80s mph by 2018. As a result, Crow increasingly relied on the movement and tunneling of his sinker-slider for effectiveness, prioritizing over raw in his later career stages. This shift highlighted how his core , while durable for work early on, proved vulnerable to the cumulative stress of pitching demands.

Personal life

Family

Aaron Crow married Sara Haiderzad, a 2015 graduate of the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry, in March 2017, shortly before his retirement from professional baseball. Crow maintains close relationships with his family in , including his father, Kevin Crow, who resides in Topeka, and his siblings: brother Travis in Topeka and sister Jennifer in Emporia. His mother, Julie Crow, passed away in 2017; the obituary noted her survivors included Kevin, along with children Jennifer (married to Matthew Freeby), Aaron (with Sara), and Travis. Following his retirement, Crow's family provided significant support in his transition to life after , influencing his choice to settle in Kansas City to remain near them. He has stated that proximity to his father, brother, and sister was a key factor in this decision, allowing him to stay connected to his roots in the region.

Post-playing activities

After retiring from at the end of the 2018 season following his time in the Mexican League, Aaron Crow shifted his focus to family priorities and personal development, settling in the Kansas City area. Crow returned to the to complete a degree in , graduating in spring 2021 with a in . Through entrepreneurial studies at the university, he explored business ideas including the establishment of a academy. He also reconnected with a former high school travel ball team in Kansas City, considering opportunities in coaching. As of 2020, Crow expressed satisfaction with his post-MLB life, stating, “I couldn’t be happier with now.” He has maintained a low-profile centered on and occasional alumni involvement, such as an appearance at a Kansas City Royals event in June 2025.

References

  1. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/crowaa01.shtml
  2. https://www.mlb.com/player/aaron-crow-543070
  3. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=crow--001aar
  4. https://mutigers.com/sports/baseball/roster/aaron-crow/3744
  5. https://www.mlb.com/news/crow-from-royals-fan-to-reliever/c-26224544
  6. https://www.cjonline.com/story/sports/high-school/2020/07/11/where-are-they-now-topekan-aaron-crow-happy-with-life-after-baseball/114876928/
  7. https://ksbaseballhof.com/crow-aaron/
  8. https://royalsreporter.com/2020/05/14/aaron-crow-rhp-2014-royals-hall-of-not-forgotten-inductee/
  9. https://mutigers.com/documents/2015/9/23/2006.html
  10. https://www.thebaseballcube.com/content/summer_stats/2007~Falmouth_Commodores~CapeCod/
  11. https://mutigers.com/honors/hall-of-fame/aaron-crow/195
  12. https://big12sports.com/news/2008/5/20/1522448.aspx
  13. https://www.capecodleague.com/history/awards
  14. https://mutigers.com/news/2008/6/5/Aaron_Crow_Selected_by_Nationals_with_Ninth_Pick_in_MLB_Draft
  15. https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Aaron_Crow
  16. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/09/royals-sign-crow.html
  17. https://www.baseball-reference.com/allstar/2011-allstar-game.shtml
  18. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=crowaa01&t=p&year=2013
  19. https://www.mlb.com/news/miami-marlins-acquire-pitcher-aaron-crow-from-kansas-city-royals/c-102656954
  20. https://www.mlb.com/news/marlins-reliever-aaron-crow-opts-for-tommy-john-surgery/c-116824862
  21. https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/marlins-aaron-crow-undergoes-tommy-john-surgery/
  22. https://www.fishstripes.com/2015/4/1/8325657/miami-marlins-aaron-crow-tommy-john-surgery
  23. https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/player/_/id/7660/aaron-crow
  24. https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2016/02/19/cubs-agree-to-minor-league-deal-with-aaron-crow/80620738/
  25. https://www.chicagotribune.com/2016/02/19/cubs-sign-aaron-crow/
  26. https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/2016-transactions.shtml
  27. https://www.milb.com/player/aaron-crow-543070
  28. https://www.fangraphs.com/pitchfxo.aspx?playerid=10149&position=P
  29. https://www.fangraphs.com/players/aaron-crow/10149/stats?position=P
  30. https://www.brooksbaseball.net/landing.php?player=543070
  31. https://kingsofkauffman.com/2013/12/30/royals-new-years-resolutions-bench-bullpen/
  32. https://chrisoleary.com/projects/PitchingMechanics101/Analyses/AaronCrow.html
  33. https://www.baseballamerica.com/players/5847-aaron-crow/
  34. https://blogs.fangraphs.com/index.php/as-the-aaron-crow-flies/
  35. https://www.umkcalumni.com/s/1236/16/simple.aspx?sid=1236&gid=1&pgid=2902
  36. https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/cjonline/name/julie-crow-obituary?id=23260162
  37. https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-crow-094350198
  38. https://www.facebook.com/kcroyalsfoundation/posts/join-us-on-june-1st-to-welcome-2014-alcs-champion-aaron-crow-to-his-first-alumni/1030098162570733/
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.