Wil Crowe

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #20 prospect in 2021
  Fastball: 50. Slider: 50. Changeup: 55. Curveball: 50. Control: 50
  TRACK RECORD: Crowe had Tommy John surgery as a South Carolina freshman but rebounded to become the Gamecocks’ ace by his junior year. The Nationals drafted him in the second round in 2017 and he won high Class A Carolina League pitcher of the year award in his first full season in 2018, when he went 11-0, 2.69 in 87 innings. Crowe jumped to Triple-A in 2019 and made his major league debut in 2020, although he tested positive for COVID-19 over the summer and got hit hard in his first three major league starts.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Crowe didn’t trust his stuff in his first major league outings, but he has a future as a No. 5 starter or long relief option. Crowe’s fastball sits at 91-93 mph and touches 95. He can spin an average slider and curveball and shows the makings of a changeup with above-average potential. None of Crowe's offerings are plus, but he’s a tough competitor who has better command than he showed in his major league debut. He fell into too many deep counts and nibbled too much in his first taste of major league play, an issue that should be corrected with experience.
  
  THE FUTURE: Crowe should get another shot at the majors as a member of the Pirates rotation in 2021. If he doesn't stick in the rotation, he could serve as a long reliever or spot starter.
• 
  Ranked Washington Nationals #4 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Crowe had Tommy John surgery in 2015 and missed all of 2016 at South Carolina, but rebounded in 2017 to become the Nationals' second-round pick. He won high Class A Carolina League Pitcher of the Year honors in his first full season but struggled after being bumped to Double-A. He fared much better in his second Eastern League try in 2019, posting a 3.87 ERA, and finished the year at Triple-A Fresno.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Crowe is continuing to learn which of his four pitches works best at which times. His fastball velocity has increased each year and he now sits 92-93 mph with the ability to reach 95. His four-seam fastball plays up more than its raw velocity would suggest due to an elite spin rate that makes it an above-average pitch, and he can mix in a sinker to change hitters' eye levels. His changeup is a swing-and-miss pitch that draws above-average grades, and he shows feel to spin both an average curveball and slider. Crowe has the actions and durability to remain a starter, but his stuff would play up in the bullpen, too.
  
  THE FUTURE: Crowe will continue to see what his stuff can do against more advanced hitters. He's seen as a future major leaguer, but the question could be what role he'll play.
• 
  Ranked Washington Nationals #5 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Crowe had a strong 2017 debut for the Nationals after signing for $946,500 in the second round, posting a 2.96 ERA over two leagues. In his first full pro season in 2018, Crowe posted a 2.69 ERA in the Carolina League before earning a promotion to Double-A Harrisburg where he struggled in five starts.
  
  Scouting Report: Crowe has no plus pitch in his repertoire, and the 6-foot-2 righthander relies on excellent feel for a solid four-pitch mix to succeed. Scouts and Nationals coaches both rave about Crowe's ability to mix his entire repertoire in any count, which includes a willingness and ability to work inside against hitters. His fastball sits in the 91-92 mph range with solid sinking action. He has a curveball and slider that are both average offerings and a changeup that has become his go-to out pitch. Crowe doesn't throw as hard as he did in college, when he had more rest between starts. He also had Tommy John surgery as a sophomore. Still, the emergence of his changeup and his overall strike-throwing ability has allowed him to become of Washington's most consistent pitching prospects.
  
  The Future: After wearing down a bit at the end of 2018 under the stress of a career high 116 innings, Crowe will likely start 2019 back in Double-A.
• 
  Ranked Washington Nationals #7 prospect in 2018
  The Nationals made Crowe their second selection in the 2017 draft and signed him for $946,500 after his bounce-back junior year at South Carolina. He had Tommy John surgery in 2015 that forced him to sit out the 2016 season. Crowe served as the ace of South Carolina's staff as a freshman, posting a 2.75 ERA before his injury. He dominated early during his junior campaign in 2017 to show evaluators that he still had impact stuff. That translated to pro ball where Crowe posted a 2.96 ERA, mostly at short-season Auburn, while showing four average or better pitches. He has a fastball that sits in the low to mid-90s and has been up to 97 mph, a curveball and slider that are both average or slightly better, depending when you see him, and a low-80s changeup that's also an average pitch. Washington will be cautious with Crowe given his medical history, but he's fairly polished and seems like a safe bet to be a No. 4 or 5 starter if he remains healthy. Washington could opt to challenge him with an assignment to high Class A Potomac in 2018 if he looks good in the spring.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #47 prospect in 2017 draft
  Part of the same Tennessee prep class of 2013 that included the likes of Nick Senzel, Will Craig, Dakota Hudson and more, Crowe was on the outside looking in last June, sidelined by Tommy John surgery. While the rest of that Tennessee prep class heard their names called in the draft, Crowe made clear he'd be returning to South Carolina for another season. The thickly built righthander had the misfortune of tearing his UCL late in his sophomore year, wiping out almost two seasons for Crowe, who was the Gamecocks' Friday ace and a freshman All-American in 2014. Crowe reclaimed his place in the Gamecocks rotation this spring and dominated early, showing the kind of stuff that made him a hot commodity before the injury. At his best, Crowe can touch 96-97 mph, sitting 91-94, with a sharp upper 70s curveball and a tighter, more horizontal slider. Crowe has shown improved feel for his 83-85 mph changeup this season, using it effectively against lefthanded batters. However, there's been some inconsistency in the quality of Crowe's stuff and sharpness, particularly late this season--perhaps the result of fatigue from his time on the shelf. He's been tasked with leading the South Carolina pitching staff since ace Clarke Schmidt went down with a torn UCL of his own.
• Ranked #148 prospect in 2016 draft
  Crowe earned Freshman All-American honors after going 8-3, 2.75 in the spring of 2014. On track to be one of the next great SEC aces, Crowe struggled out of the gate in his sophomore season and tore his UCL in April, forcing him to miss the rest of the season and all of this spring due to Tommy John rehab. Scouts are unsure what to make of Crowe, having not seen him pitch in more than a year. And with the righthander reportedly asking for a big number, it's possible he might end up back at school. Crowe is from the same 2013 Tennessee prep class as Nick Senzel, Dakota Hudson and Will Craig, and his body is most similar to Craig's--6-foot-2, 240 pounds. When healthy, Crowe has run his fastball up to 96 mph with command, with a sharp low-80s breaking ball as his main secondary pitch. But scouts haven't yet gotten to see his post-injury stuff.
• Ranked #141 prospect in 2013 draft
  Most scouts use Joe Blanton as a comparison for Crowe, both a compliment and a curse for the 6-foot-3, 235-pound Crowe. Like Blanton, Crowe has a jumbo frame and offers no projection. His size also gives him good present stuff. Scouts who like Crowe have noted his hard work in trying to improve his physique, which has contributed to improved velocity this spring. His fastball, once 88-90 mph, now sits 89-93, touching a tick or two higher. He has a sharp curveball with good downer action, though he lacks consistent extension out front to finish the pitch. His changeup is solid-average as well, though he is still honing his feel for the pitch. Scouts were trying to size up signability for the South Carolina recruit, who likely would jump into the Gamecocks' weekend rotation as a freshman if he goes to school.

• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 50. Slider: 50. Changeup: 55. Curveball: 50. Control: 50
  TRACK RECORD: Crowe had Tommy John surgery as a South Carolina freshman but rebounded to become the Gamecocks’ ace by his junior year. The Nationals drafted him in the second round in 2017 and he won high Class A Carolina League pitcher of the year award in his first full season in 2018, when he went 11-0, 2.69 in 87 innings. Crowe jumped to Triple-A in 2019 and made his major league debut in 2020, although he tested positive for COVID-19 over the summer and got hit hard in his first three major league starts.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Crowe didn’t trust his stuff in his first major league outings, but he has a future as a No. 5 starter or long relief option. Crowe’s fastball sits at 91-93 mph and touches 95. He can spin an average slider and curveball and shows the makings of a changeup with above-average potential. None of Crowe's offerings are plus, but he’s a tough competitor who has better command than he showed in his major league debut. He fell into too many deep counts and nibbled too much in his first taste of major league play, an issue that should be corrected with experience.
  
  THE FUTURE: Crowe should get another shot at the majors as a member of the Pirates rotation in 2021. If he doesn't stick in the rotation, he could serve as a long reliever or spot starter.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 50. Slider: 50. Changeup: 55. Curveball: 50. Control: 50
  TRACK RECORD: Crowe had Tommy John surgery as a South Carolina freshman but rebounded to become the Gamecocks’ ace by his junior year. The Nationals drafted him in the second round in 2017 and he won high Class A Carolina League pitcher of the year award in his first full season in 2018, when he went 11-0, 2.69 in 87 innings. Crowe jumped to Triple-A in 2019 and made his major league debut in 2020, although he tested positive for COVID-19 over the summer and got hit hard in his first three major league starts.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Crowe didn’t trust his stuff in his first major league outings, but he has a future as a No. 5 starter or long relief option. Crowe’s fastball sits at 91-93 mph and touches 95. He can spin an average slider and curveball and shows the makings of a changeup with above-average potential. None of Crowe's offerings are plus, but he’s a tough competitor who has better command than he showed in his major league debut. He fell into too many deep counts and nibbled too much in his first taste of major league play, an issue that should be corrected with experience.
  
  THE FUTURE: Crowe should get another shot at the majors as a member of the Pirates rotation in 2021. If he doesn't stick in the rotation, he could serve as a long reliever or spot starter.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Crowe had Tommy John surgery in 2015 and missed all of 2016 at South Carolina, but rebounded in 2017 to become the Nationals’ second-round pick. He won high Class A Carolina League Pitcher of the Year honors in his first full season but struggled after being bumped to Double-A. He fared much better in his second Eastern League try in 2019, posting a 3.87 ERA, and finished the year at Triple-A Fresno.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Crowe is continuing to learn which of his four pitches works best at which times. His fastball velocity has increased each year and he now sits 92-93 mph with the ability to reach 95. His four-seam fastball plays up more than its raw velocity would suggest due to an elite spin rate that makes it an above-average pitch, and he can mix in a sinker to change hitters’ eye levels. His changeup is a swing-and-miss pitch that draws above-average grades, and he shows feel to spin both an average curveball and slider. Crowe has the actions and durability to remain a starter, but his stuff would play up in the bullpen, too.
  
  THE FUTURE: Crowe will continue to see what his stuff can do against more advanced hitters. He’s seen as a future major leaguer, but the question could be what role he’ll play.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Crowe had Tommy John surgery in 2015 and missed all of 2016 at South Carolina, but rebounded in 2017 to become the Nationals' second-round pick. He won high Class A Carolina League Pitcher of the Year honors in his first full season but struggled after being bumped to Double-A. He fared much better in his second Eastern League try in 2019, posting a 3.87 ERA, and finished the year at Triple-A Fresno.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Crowe is continuing to learn which of his four pitches works best at which times. His fastball velocity has increased each year and he now sits 92-93 mph with the ability to reach 95. His four-seam fastball plays up more than its raw velocity would suggest due to an elite spin rate that makes it an above-average pitch, and he can mix in a sinker to change hitters' eye levels. His changeup is a swing-and-miss pitch that draws above-average grades, and he shows feel to spin both an average curveball and slider. Crowe has the actions and durability to remain a starter, but his stuff would play up in the bullpen, too.
  
  THE FUTURE: Crowe will continue to see what his stuff can do against more advanced hitters. He's seen as a future major leaguer, but the question could be what role he'll play.
• July, 2018 Scouting Report
  Crowe supplies a high floor as a college arm with impressive command of a solid four-pitch mix. Scouts outside the Nationals organization rave about Crowe’s ability to sequence pitches with above-average command that could wind up being plus. His low-to-mid-90s fastball is his best offering, with late sink and boring action, but he has good feel for a changeup, curveball and slider that are all project as at least average pitches.
• December, 2017 Scouting Report
  Track Record: The Nationals made Crowe their second selection in the 2017 draft and signed him for $946,500 after his bounce-back junior year at South Carolina. He had Tommy John surgery in 2015 that forced him to sit out the 2016 season. Scouting Report: Crowe served as the ace of South Carolina's staff as a freshman, posting a 2.75 ERA before his injury. He dominated early during his junior campaign in 2017 to show evaluators that he still had impact stuff. That translated to pro ball where Crowe posted a 2.96 ERA, mostly at short-season Auburn, while showing four average or better pitches. He has a fastball that sits in the low to mid-90s and has been up to 97 mph, a curveball and slider that are both average or slightly better, depending when you see him, and a low-80s changeup that's also an average pitch. The Future: Washington will be cautious with Crowe given his medical history, but he's fairly polished and seems like a safe bet to be a No. 4 or 5 starter if he remains healthy. Washington could opt to challenge him with an assignment to high Class A Potomac in 2018 if he looks good in the spring.