Casey Crosby

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Detroit Tigers #17 prospect in 2014
  For years, Crosby has tantalized with his stuff but been equally frustrating for his inability to harness it or stay healthy. Shortly after the Tigers signed him for $748,500 as a fifth-round pick out of high school in 2007, Crosby hurt his elbow at instructional league and missed nearly all of 2008 following Tommy John surgery. He barely pitched in 2010 due to swelling in the joint. In May 2013, Crosby missed two weeks with a left shoulder impingement but didn't pitch after June 17 after more shoulder soreness and to have a bone spur removed from his left elbow. At his best, he throws 91-94 mph and touches 96 with heavy life. He changes speeds on his power curveball, dialing it up to the low 80s at times for his out-pitch. He's shown some feel for a changeup, but it's mostly a fringe-average offering. Crosby can miss bats and get groundballs, but aside from health his biggest impediment has been an inability to throw strikes. He has tinkered with his delivery to try to improve his control, but he walked a career-worst 6.2 batters per nine innings at Triple-A Toledo in 2013 and has a career mark of 4.88 BB/9 in the minors. A shift to the bullpen appears imminent in 2014.
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  Ranked Detroit Tigers #8 prospect in 2013
  Crosby has had one of the best arms in the system since signing for $748,500 in 2007. He hurt his elbow in instructional league right after he was drafted and missed most of 2008 after Tommy John surgery. Then he missed most of 2010 with swelling in the joint. Healthy for the last two seasons, he made his big league debut in June when Doug Fister went on the disabled list with a ribcage strain. Crosby has better stuff than most lefthanders. When he's on, he has a 91-94 mph fastball that tops out at 96 and a power curveball in the low 80s. He has learned to back off his fastball a bit and save a little extra for when he really needs it. He also has shown the ability to add and subtract from his curveball. Crosby has tinkered with his grip--now using a three-finger grip--and made improvements with his changeup. He backspins the pitch well, which creates deception, but it's still fringy. He has reduced the effort in his delivery and taken a more direct line to the plate, though his control still needs work. If Crosby can throw enough quality strikes, he has the stuff to be a solid No. 3 starter. The Tigers currently have a crowded rotation, so he figures to start 2013 in Triple-A or in the big league bullpen.
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  Ranked Detroit Tigers #4 prospect in 2012
  Crosby signed for $748,500 as a fifth-round pick in 2007, then hurt his elbow during instructional league that fall. Tommy John surgery sidelined him for most of 2008 and swelling in his elbow cost him most of 2010, though he didn't require a second operation. His 132 innings in Double-A last year exceeded his previous total of 122 in three pro seasons. Crosby throws two- and four-seam fastballs, working at 92-94 mph with the ability to hit 96. His size helps him get good downhill plane, which leads to swings and misses and groundouts. His curveball flashes plus potential with sharp bite and depth, though at times it can get slurvy. He throws his changeup with good arm speed and sink. Crosby still needs to make significant strides with throwing strikes. He tried to be too fine with his pitches against Double-A hitters. He needs to repeat his mechanics better, and his athleticism should help him make adjustments with his lower half in his delivery. Staying healthy for a full season was a significant step for Crosby, though his health and control issues still may land him in the bullpen. The Tigers will continue to develop him in hopes he can become a No. 2 or 3 starter, though it's possible he could reach the majors in 2012 if used as a reliever. Protected on the 40-man roster in November, he'll advance to Triple-A.
• 
  Ranked Detroit Tigers #6 prospect in 2011
  After signing for $748,500 as a fifth-round pick in 2007, Crosby hurt his elbow in the instructional league that fall and required Tommy John surgery. He spent 2008 rehabbing and came back strong the following year, but 2010 was a lost season. A talented wide receiver in high school, Crosby has a football mentality and may have pushed too hard to make a quick recovery, which cost him most of the 2010 season. He made just three starts because he wasn't able to pitch without pain, though doctors didn't find any structural damage in his elbow and he did not require surgery. When Crosby is right, his stuff is undeniable. He has well above-average velocity for a lefthander, sitting at 92-95 mph and getting as high as 98 with late life on his fastball while using his height to get good plane on the pitch. He mixes in a true curveball that shows potential to be an above-average pitch with tight rotation and late break. He also shows some feel for a changeup. He needs to work on the consistency and command of all of his pitches--no surprise, considering he has just 122 innings of pro experience. If healthy, Crosby will start the 2011 season in high Class A, but the Tigers still have to see how he feels and looks during spring training. As talented as he is, there are serious questions about whether he'll be able to handle a starter's workload.
• 
  Ranked Detroit Tigers #2 prospect in 2010
  The Tigers signed Crosby for $748,500 as a sixth-round pick in 2007, only to see him hurt his elbow in instructional league and require Tommy John surgery. Because he entered 2009 with just five innings of pro experience, they limited him to five innings or 75-80 pitchers per outing in low Class A. Crosby starred despite the short leash, going 5-2, 0.78 in the second half and drawing comparisons to Clayton Kershaw. Crosby has well-above-average velocity for a lefthander, sitting at 92-95 mph and getting as high as 98 with late life. He also throws a true curveball with sharp downward break and tight rotation. His curve has the potential to be a plus pitch, and when he misses with it, he misses down rather than in a hitter's wheelhouse. He also shows some feel for a changeup. He has some deception and uses his height and high three-quarters arm slot to throw on a steep downward plane. A very good athlete, he was an all-state wide receiver at his suburban Chicago high school. Crosby needs work on the consistency and command of all of his pitches. Because his offerings aren't fully developed, he relies on blowing his fastball by hitters. He lost a chance to work on his secondary pitches during instructional league, as he was shut down after a couple starts with shoulder tendinitis. Crosby has an electric arm and is one of the game's best lefthanded pitching prospects. Rick Porcello notwithstanding, Detroit typically moves its pitchers one step at a time, so Crosby figures to spend 2010 at high Class A Lakeland. If he can handle a full workload, he figures to accelerate his timetable.
• 
  Ranked Detroit Tigers #4 prospect in 2009
  An all-state pitcher and wide receiver at his suburban Chicago high school, Crosby has seen his pro career start slowly. It took the commissioner's office two weeks to grant final approval for his above-slot $748,500 bonus in the 2007 draft. Then he hurt his elbow in instructional league and missed virtually all of 2008 while rehabilitating from the Tommy John surgery. When he appeared in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League less than nine months after the operation, he displayed first-round stuff. Crosby has a strong, lean body and electric left arm. His fastball averages 94 mph and climbs as high as 97 mph with late life. At this point, he has better command of his four-seamer than his two-seamer. He has improved the arm action on his 84-85 mph circle changeup. His delivery offers some deception. The mere fact that he pitched at all in 2008 speaks to his athleticism. Crosby lacks polish because he has so little pro experience. He throws a curveball and sweepy, hard slider that at times he throws as hard as 87 mph, but they're mediocre, and the distinction between them is blurred. He must learn to repeat his pitches more consistently. The Tigers love Crosby's competitive fire and believe he could develop into a quality big league starter. He'll open with one of their Class A affiliates in 2009.
• 
  Ranked Detroit Tigers #13 prospect in 2008
  The Tigers faced scrutiny from the commissioner's office after signing some of their top draft picks for well above MLB's slot recommendations. But if Crosby becomes a top-of-the-rotation starter--and they believe he will--it will be well worth the trouble. Detroit ranked him among the draft's top 25 players, so it was happy to sign him for $748,500 when he dropped into the fifth round because of a high price tag. However, the Tigers will have to wait for returns on their investment, as Crosby required Tommy John surgery after coming down with an elbow injury in instructional league. There aren't many 6-foot-5 lefthanders who reach 95 mph as high school seniors like Crosby did. He's raw, but the Tigers love his athleticism. He was an all-state wide receiver in football and played center field before moving to the mound full-time in 2006. His delivery has some deception, and the ball jumps on hitters because of his long limbs. He has broad shoulders, a good body and a high three-quarters arm slot. While the success rate for Tommy John surgery is strong, it's not a given that his stuff will come back. When healthy, he hasn't shown good command with his tailing fastball. He throws an inconsistent, slurvy breaking ball and has yet to develop a changeup. His mechanics need polish, too, but that's common among young pitchers from cold-weather states. The Tigers believe Crosby has great potential, which is one reason they'll be cautious with him coming back from his injury. If he throws in instructional league in 2008, he'll be ahead of schedule.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked International League #18 prospect in 2012
  Like Turner, Crosby is a Tigers farmhand who didn't spend much time matriculating on the farm before getting a big league shot. His came in June with three starts and included a shellacking at the hands of the Yankees. He pitched worse after his return to the IL than before he went up, and managers thought his confidence had been affected. A Tommy John surgery alumnus, Crosby at his best has a pair of plus pitches in his 91-94 mph fastball and low-80s power curveball. He also throws a slower curve and get-over changeup. Crosby doesn't throw enough strikes with any of his offerings, however, so most scouts see him as a reliever. "You have to respect his fastball and curve," Sarbaugh said. "He has a power arm and he has the ability to spin a breaking ball."
• 
  Ranked Midwest League #6 prospect in 2009
  Because he had Tommy John surgery shortly after he signed in 2007, Crosby had pitched just five pro innings before this year. His rust was evident, but his stuff was undeniable. "He kinds of reminds me of Clayton Kershaw when Kershaw was in the Midwest League," an American League scout said. "I'm not saying he'll be that good, but he has the power fastball up to 95 and the power breaking ball. He was lights out when I saw him." Crosby has uncommon velocity for a lefthander and he had the best fastball in the league, sitting at 92-95 mph and touching 98 with late life. He'll flash a hard breaking ball and a promising changeup, but he lacks consistency with both pitches as well as his command. A quality athlete who was an all-state wide receiver in high school, he has a delivery that's more deceptive than smooth.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #47 prospect in 2010

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: Crosby has had one of the best arms in the system since signing for $748,500 in 2007. He hurt his elbow in instructional league right after he was drafted and missed most of 2008 after Tommy John surgery. Then he missed most of 2010 with swelling in the joint. Healthy for the last two seasons, he made his big league debut in June when Doug Fister went on the disabled list with a ribcage strain. Scouting Report: Crosby has better stuff than most lefthanders. When he's on, he has a 91-94 mph fastball that tops out at 96 and a power curveball in the low 80s. He has learned to back off his fastball a bit and save a little extra for when he really needs it. He also has shown the ability to add and subtract from his curveball. Crosby has tinkered with his grip--now using a three-finger grip-- and made improvements with his changeup. He backspins the pitch well, which creates deception, but it's still fringy. He has reduced the effort in his delivery and taken a more direct line to the plate, though his control still needs work. The Future: If Crosby can throw enough quality strikes, he has the stuff to be a solid No. 3 starter. The Tigers currently have a crowded rotation, so he figures to start 2013 in Triple-A or in the big league bullpen.
• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: Crosby signed for $748,500 as a fifth-round pick in 2007, then hurt his elbow during instructional league that fall. Tommy John surgery sidelined him for most of 2008 and swelling in his elbow cost him most of 2010, though he didn't require a second operation. His 132 innings in Double-A last year exceeded his previous total of 122 in three pro seasons. Scouting Report: Crosby throws two- and four-seam fastballs, working at 92-94 mph with the ability to hit 96. His size helps him get good downhill plane, which leads to swings and misses and groundouts. His curveball flashes plus potential with sharp bite and depth, though at times it can get slurvy. He throws his changeup with good arm speed and sink. Crosby still needs to make significant strides with throwing strikes. He tried to be too fine with his pitches against Double-A hitters. He needs to repeat his mechanics better, and his athleticism should help him make adjustments with his lower half in his delivery. The Future: Staying healthy for a full season was a significant step for Crosby, though his health and control issues still may land him in the bullpen. The Tigers will continue to develop him as a starter, though it's possible he could reach the majors in 2012 if used as a reliever. Protected on the 40-man roster in November, he'll advance to Triple-A.