Brandon Crawford

At 37 years old, Brandon Crawford has this physical status:

Brandon Michael Crawford (born January 21, 1987) is an American professional baseball shortstop for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball (MLB).

Crawford played college baseball for the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he was named team Most Valuable Player twice. (MVP)

Crawford was selected by the Giants in the fourth round of the 2008 Major League Baseball draft.

In 2011, he made his MLB debut.

In his first Major League game, he became the sixth player to reach a grand slam, and he was also the first shortstop to score a grand slam in a Major League baseball postseason game.

Early life

Crawford is a native of the San Francisco Bay Area. He was born in Mountain View and his family lived in Menlo Park until he was moved to Pleasanton when he was in elementary school, where he grew up. When the ballpark opened in 2000, he and his family bought season tickets and a commemorative brick in Willie Mays Plaza, just south of AT&T Park.

Crawford attended Foothill High School in Pleasanton, where he competed football, basketball, and baseball. He was the starting quarterback for the Foothill Falcons and graduated in the class of 2005.

Personal life

On November 26, 2011, Crawford married Jalynne Dantzscher, a former UCLA gymnast, in Kona, Hawaii. They have two daughters and two sons. They live in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Crawford is the brother-in-law of Olympic gymnast Jamie Dantzscher. Amy Crawford is married to pitcher Gerrit Cole and is married to him. Jennifer Pippin, his brother-in-law, died in 2017 as a result of an asthma attack.

Crawford wears the word "DJ BC Raw" on his shirt during the MLB players weekend promotion. His nickname refers to his regular use of a speaker in the team's squad.

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College career

Crawford earned his undergraduate degree at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he was a physiological sciences major. He played baseball for UCLA from 2006 to 2008 and helped lead the team to the NCAA Regionals for three seasons in a row, the first time in school history. Crawford was named team MVP in 2006 and 2007, and he was named to the All-Pac-10 Conference team in 2007. He played for the Orleans Cardinals of the Cape Cod Baseball League in the summer of 2007. Before going to UCLA, he played in the Mankato MoonDogs in the Northwoods League.

He was instrumental in the success of the United States national team in the 2006 International University Sports Federation (FISU) World Championship.

Professional career

Crawford was selected in the fourth round of the 2008 MLB draft by the Giants for 117th overall pick, with the 117th overall pick, and the San Francisco Giants' $375,000 signing bonus. Crawford played for the Class-A Advanced San Jose Giants for his first full season. He hit.371 with six home runs and 17 RBIs in 25 games, good enough for a slugging rate of.600 to 1.045 OPS. Crawford was promoted to the Double-A Connecticut Defenders in May, where he spent the remainder of the season, hitting.258 with four home runs in 108 games.

Crawford started the season in Double-A (now with the Richmond Flying Squirls) and earned an Eastern League All-Star nod in 79 games before suffering a broken hand in early July, which sidelined Crawford for nearly two months. He was sent back to San Jose for the remainder of the season when he recovered. By Baseball America in 2011, he was ranked as the sixth best prospect in the Giants' organization.

Crawford was invited to spring training in 2011, but he was halted due to a broken finger in the final week and began the season in San Jose while recovering.

Following injuries to Buster Posey, Mike Fontenot, and Darren Ford, he was called up to the MLB for the first time on May 26, 2011. Crawford made his MLB debut against the Milwaukee Brewers on May 27. He hit the Brewers in his third game of the season, and it was a grand slam off Shaun Marcum's first MLB hit. He joined Bobby Bonds and Brian Dallimore as the only Giants' first grand slam in his career; he also became the sixth player in MLB history and the second in the team's history, alongside Bobby Bonds in his first game.

Since the Giants purchased shortstop Orlando Cabrera, he was optioned to the Fresno Grizzlies, on July 31. Crawford was the Giants' starting lineup on February 23, but he was only hitting.190. Crawford was recalled in September when MLB rosters increased to 40 players.

Crawford was named the team's first day shortstop in 2012, in which he finished 8th in the lineup. In 143 games, he batted.248 with four home runs, 26 doubles, and 45 RBI. The Giants defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 7-2 on July 20, Crawford hitting his second grand slam and driving in 5 runs. Crawford was praised for his defense during the 2012 World Series, which culminated in a 4–0 sweep of the Detroit Tigers. Crawford was ranked third among the NL shortstops at +12, and was recognized with the Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Award at shortstop.

Crawford was the Giants' starting shortstop for 2013, with Joaqun rias as his backup. He hit.348/.363 in 149 games this year, with 9 home runs and 43 RBI.

Crawford batted.246 runs and set career highs with ten home runs and 69 RBIs in 153 games. Crawford earned his tenth inning, walk-off home run against the Colorado Rockies' Rex Brothers on April 13. Crawford led all Giants in the 2014 postseason with 9 RBIs. Crawford was the first shortstop to reach a grand slam in Major League Baseball postseason history in the 4th inning of the NL Wild Card Game between the Giants and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Crawford batted.304 (7-for-23) with 4 RBIs in the 2014 World Series, his second title with the Giants. Crawford played in Game 7 and made a sacrifice fly and, with second baseman Joe Panik, turned in a pivotal double-play in the third inning.

The Giants and Crawford avoided arbitration by deciding to a one-year, $3.175 million contract on January 27, 2015. Crawford had his third grand slam (fourth since the season) against Mike Leake of the Cincinnati Reds on May 16, hitting his third grand slam (fourth including the postseason) and going for a career-high six runs against Mike Leake of the Cincinnati Reds. Crawford led the team in RBIs in May and July 1, and Crawford's 11th home run of the season capped a new career high on July 1. Crawford was voted a reserve for the 2015 MLB All-Star Game by his fellow Major League players on July 6. Crawford scored his 100th double at AT&T Park on August 14, beating the Washington Nationals 8–5. Crawford made his twentieth home run of the season off of Ian Kennedy, making him the fourth Giants shortstop in franchise history after Rich Aurilia, Alvin Dark, and Travis Jackson.

Crawford hit career highs in several offensive categories, batting.256 with 21 home runs, 84 RBIs, 33 doubles, and 130 hits. In 1905, Crawford became the first Giants' shortstop to lead the team in home runs since Bill Dahlen. He received his first Rawlings Gold Glove Award and Silver Slugger Award, the first Giant to win both awards in the same year since Barry Bonds in 1997.

Crawford and the Giants have agreed to a six-year, $75 million deal through the 2021 season, following the 2015 season. Crawford's last two years of salary arbitration as well as the first four years of free agency were included in the agreement. Crawford would have to give permission if he were to be traded if he were to be fired because of a no-trade clause.

Crawford of the Los Angeles Dodgers won his tenth innings on a walk-off home run off Joe Blanton of the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 8, 2016, in a game in which the Giants had been no-hit through 713 innings and only two hits. Crawford had a career-high in base hits and singles on August 8th in an 8–7 win over the Miami Marlins that went into extra-innings. His seven hits tied for most total hits in a single game, and it was the first time this feat had been attempted since Rennie Stennett's 1975 appearance. The seven hits also set a Giants all-time franchise record. Crawford was in Marlins Park two days later when he met with Stennett.

Crawford's batting average rose to a new high of.275 in 155 games played during the 2016 season. Crawford received the Willie Mac Award, which honors the Giants' most inspirational player, as well as teammate Javier López. Since the season, he was given his second straight Gold Glove Award.

Crawford was placed on the 10-day disabled list on April 29, 2017 due to a right groin strain. He batted.305/.403 with 14 home runs and 77 RBI in 2017, and after the season, he received his third consecutive Gold Glove Award. He was the first shortstop to win three straight since Jimmy Rollins (2007–09) and the first Giant since J. T. Snow, who won four in a row (1997–2000).

Crawford won the game 1–0 for the Giants after a walk-off home run against the Colorado Rockies on June 27, 2018. Crawford became the first Giants player since Steve Decker in April 1991 to win a 1–0 game by a walk-off solo homer. Crawford was named the starting shortstop for the 2018 MLB All-Star Game, hitting.300 with ten home runs and 39 RBIs. Crawford was ranked 193 in the second half of the second half after being plagued by injuries throughout the second half. Crawford, a left-handed pitcher with a higher batting average against left-hand pitching at.274 than right-hand pitching. He was average against right-hand pitching at.243.

He had a.254/.325/.394 batting average for the season. At 25.9 feet per second, he had the slowest baserunning sprint speed of all major league shortstops.

Crawford was the heart & Hustle Award winner for the Giants in 2018. Crawford missed out on his fourth straight gold glove to Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Nick Ahmed.

During the Giants' 19-2 victory over the Rockies on July 15, 2019, he had five hits in six at bats, two home runs and a career-high eight runs batted in. Willie Mays and Orlando Cepeda's eight RBIs tied for the San Francisco team's all-time record. Crawford was the first shortstop in history to hit five runs and eight RBIs in a single game, and the first Giant to have at least 2 home runs and eight RBIs in a game since Willie Mays did it in 1961.

He batted.228/.350/.350 in 2019 with 11 home runs and 59 RBIs.

He batted.256/.465 (his highest slugging percentage of his career) with 8 home runs and 23 RBIs in 2020. He had the fastest sprint speed of all major league shortstops at 25.7 mph.

Crawford played shortstop for the Giants in their 1,326th game, beating Travis Jackson for the most games played at the position in franchise history on June 8, 2021. Crawford committed to a two-year contract extension worth $32 million through 2023 on August 13.

Crawford batted.298(9th in the NL)/.526(10th)/.522 in the 2021 regular season, with 79 runs, 24 home runs, 11 stolen bases, and 90 RBIs (all career highs). He had 549 at bats in 138 games. He had a.983 fielding percentage (3rd in the Netherlands) and a 3.76 range factor/game (3rd). He finished third of all active players in games played at shortstop at 1,409.

Crawford took a leaping catch in Game 3 of the 2021 NLDS to keep a crucial 1-0 lead for the Giants, which allowed the Giants a 2-1 series lead.

At shortstop, he received the 2021 National League Gold Glove Award. He tied for fourth place with four Gold Glove Awards, surpassing former first baseman J.T. This is the third time a snow has weighed on Giants history.

He was voted a finalist in the 2021 Silver Slugger Award. He was announced to finish 4th in National League MVP polls on November 18, which was announced on November 18.

As on defense, he led the NL in range factor per game at shortstop (3.88), and with the Giants, he batted.308/.344 in 407 at bats. He was the second of all active players in career games at shortstop (1,525).

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