Coleman Crow Rewards Angels’ Confidence

Image credit: Los Angeles Angels

Coleman Crow was a 28th-round pick out of Pike County High in Zebulon, Ga., in 2019, but he received fifth-round money when he signed with the Angels for $317,500.

The 6-foot, 175-pound righthander did not pitch in his draft year and missed out on development time when the 2020 season was canceled, but in 2021 he showed why the Angels bought him out of a Kennesaw State commitment.

After a two-month stint in extended spring training, Crow made his pro debut with Low-A Inland Empire, recording a 4.19 ERA in 13 games (10 starts), striking out 62 and walking 29 in 62.1 innings.

Crow was then sent to the Arizona Fall League, where he was one of the youngest players. He will be 21 in 2022. In six appearances he logged a 1.59 ERA with 20 strikeouts and two walks in 17 innings.

Crow started in the AFL Fall Stars Game and gave up four unearned runs, including a game-tying homer to Marlins prospect JJ Bleday, but that hardly diminished the strides he made this season.

“He made a lot of headway in the Fall League,” Angels minor league pitching coordinator Buddy Carlyle said. “He was one of the biggest surprises there, and he dominated at times.”

Crow’s fastball averaged 91 mph and touched 95 in 2021, and he spins his slider extremely well. He generates 3,000 rpms with the 81 mph pitch, which has more slurve shape than sharp break.

Crow throws an 83 mph changeup with splitter action and late run and is mixing in a two-seam fastball with tailing and sinking action. His walk rate at Low-A was 4.2 per nine innings, but he showed better control in the AFL.

Though small in stature, Crow has a feisty mound demeanor and penchant for battling through tough situations.

If he gains more fastball velocity and improves command of his secondary pitches, he could pitch in the back of a big league rotation or be a solid middle reliever.