SAN FRANCISCO — When the Giants took two-way players Reggie Crawford and Bryce Eldridge in the first round of back-to-back drafts, they figured Crawford would reach the big leagues as only a pitcher and Eldridge would do so as a position player.
The latter part has come true, with Eldridge looking like one of the best young hitters in baseball. Crawford has been stalled by shoulder injuries, but he returned to the field Friday night — and surprisingly did it in the batter’s box.
Crawford played an Arizona Complex League game and went 1-for-2 with a walk and a solo homer. The 30th overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft became a full-time pitcher before the 2024 season and the Giants pushed him through the minor leagues, getting him to Triple-A as a reliever that summer before his shoulder flared up.
Crawford rehabbed in Arizona for most of the 2025 season, but the shoulder didn’t feel right when he started throwing bullpen sessions and he needed a second procedure. The 25-year-old continues to rehab from that surgery, but the Giants wanted to get him back out on the field, so they circled back to hitting, which is something Crawford thought might be a possibility when his two-way days originally ended.
“We’re going to keep (hitting) in the back pocket and try to figure out how to plan out BP a few times a week,” he said back in 2024.
The Giants have not closed the door on Crawford as a pitcher, and their hope remains that he can get back on a mound at some point this summer. But because it had been more than two years since he had appeared in a game at any level, they decided to change things up and let him DH in rookie ball games while he continues to rehab the shoulder, which has been slow to bounce back from a second surgery in such a short period of time.
Shoulders are notoriously tricky, and procedures can be more detrimental to pitchers than even Tommy John. Crawford is facing an uphill climb regardless because of the back-to-back surgeries, but the Giants are still hopeful that the velocity returns and he can continue his path as a left-handed reliever. Before he got hurt for the first time in 2024, Crawford was sitting 97-98 mph from the left side and the Giants thought he could debut in the big leagues later that season.
The Giants are leaving it open-ended for now and seeing where this goes. The important part, they feel, is that Crawford has found a way to get back on the field, even if it’s not currently on a mound. They’ll see how he feels and reevaluate as he continues his rehab.
It’s a plan that the player himself certainly seems to be on board with after an unimaginably rough run with injuries.
Thankful to be back on the field. Extremely appreciative of the people who have been supportive on the road back! https://t.co/IipIIu0sae
— Reggie Crawford (@reggiecrawford) June 13, 2026
On The Mend
Heliot Ramos is slightly ahead of schedule in his rehab from a quad strain and went through a heavy workout Friday. Ramos likely will join Triple-A Sacramento next week to start a rehab assignment.
Right-hander Tyler Mahle will make a rehab start for the River Cats this Sunday, and Matt Gage is starting his own rehab assignment Saturday.
Their returns will make for some interesting decisions for Vitello and his staff.
Casey Schmitt has been the everyday left fielder while Ramos has been hurt, and he can’t return to his role as a DH since Eldridge has taken off. The Giants could play Jung Hoo Lee in center at times to allow both young right-handed hitters to play corner outfield spots, and Schmitt can move around the infield. But it will be a daily puzzle.
Mahle’s spot in the rotation was taken by rookie Trevor McDonald, who has pitched well enough to keep the spot. The pressure could be on fellow offseason addition Adrian Houser, who has not completed five innings in his last four starts.
When talking about Gage, Vitello said the Giants are unlikely to go back to having four left-handed relievers in their bullpen. They currently have three, so a decision will have to be made when Gage is deemed ready.