Los Angeles Dodgers prospect Leo Crawford, currently with Low-A Great Lakes, was named the Midwest Pitcher of the Week for May 1-7. The left-hander went six shutout innings in a start for the Loons last Thursday.
Crawford limited the Burlington Bees (Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim affiliate) to just one hit and one walk, while striking out five. The performance was in stark contrast to how Crawford fared in his previous three outings.
During those starts, he went 0-2 and allowed a combined 17 runs (15 earned) on 18 hits, including five home runs, in 11 innings. That amounted to an abysmal 12.27 ERA.
Because of that, the 20-year-old yields a 5.92 ERA in six games (five starts) this season. Aside from the rough three-start stretch, Crawford hasn’t allowed more than one earned run in his other three games with the Loons.
Crawford is the first Loons pitcher named Midwest League Pitcher of the Week since Michael Boyle last May. The Dodgers signed Crawford out of Nicaragua in July 2014.
He joins a list of prospects within the organization to receive Minor League honors this season. The group includes High-A Rancho Cucamonga righty Mitchell White, Quakes’ catcher Will Smith and outfielder DJ Peters, and Edwin Rios of Double-A Tulsa.
On the Major League level, Cody Bellinger earned National League Player of the Week honors behind an impressive showing in his first full week with the Dodgers.
