Miami Marlins 2022 MLB Draft Preview: LHP Reggie Crawford

Despite months away from the 2022 MLB Draft, it’s never too-early to start taking a deeper look at some of the prospects that could be targets in the first couple of rounds for the Miami Marlins. Similar to last year as well, we here at Marlin Maniac will be taking a look at different prospects leading up to the draft once again.

As you can likely tell by the title as well, the first 2022 MLB Draft prospect that we will be looking at is Reggie Crawford, an intriguing two-way prospect from The University of Connecticut.

Miami Marlins 2022 MLB Draft Preview: LHP Reggie Crawford

A former 37th round pick by the Kansas City Royals back in the 2019 MLB Draft out of North Schuylkill High School (PA), Crawford went-on to attend Connecticut where he quickly burst onto the scene as a freshman with a .971 OPS across 13 games during the shortened 2020 season. Collecting a team-high seven doubles with 16 RBI’s during that span, Crawford also added an 11-game hitting streak, as well as making his collegiate debut on the mound.

After impressing both offensively and defensively as a freshman, Crawford entered the 2021 campaign as one of the top overall players in the Big East, and would go-on to post an impressive sophomore season. Slashing .295/.349/.543 across 51 games, Crawford would lead the Huskies and Big East with 13 HR’s and 62 RBI’s (fourth-most in Huskies single-season history), while also posting a 2.35 ERA with 17 K’s across 7.2 IP.

A Second-Team All-Big East selection at season’s end, Crawford would however suffer an elbow injury during the fall, one that required Tommy John surgery that will cause the 21-year-old to miss all of the upcoming 2022 season.

One of the top collegiate prospects in the 2022 MLB Draft, it’s evident as to why Crawford will have interest from numerous teams as not only a first baseman, but primarily as a pitcher, the position that most scouts believe he settles in at the next level.

Led by an upper-90’s fastball from the left-side (Grades as 70 on MLB’s scale), Crawford’s velocity is not seen often among southpaw’s, and is something that makes the Huskies two-way star an intriguing prospect compared to other arms in this draft.

However, even despite a limited sample-size on a collegiate mound, as well as coming off Tommy John surgery, the left-hander’s fastball and emerging slider could be too-intriguing to pass up, especially when Crawford has shown strong command for both.

Already an impressive hitter for both average and power, the two-way Connecticut star is quickly emerging as one of the more-exciting arms in the upcoming draft. MLB Pipeline‘s No. 32 overall prospect for the 2022 MLB Draft, don’t be surprised if Crawford continues to rise up the first round across the coming months.