August 8th, 2016 at 7:00 am 
by Harold Uhlman Left-hander Leonardo Crawford made his debut with the Great Lakes Loons on Sunday, August 7 in an afternoon game against the South Bend Cubs.
The native of Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua was signed as a free agent on July 2, 2014, the first day of the 2014-15 international signing period, having been discovered by Dodgers scouts Nemesio Porras and Luis Molina.
Crawford made his professional baseball debut on May 30, 2015 in the Dominican Summer League against the DSL Rojos, an affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. It was a successful debut as he allowed only two hits over five innings while striking out four and walking one.
Crawford built on his first game success by beginning his season with 27 consecutive scoreless innings. On the season he posted a 1.41 ERA over 63.2 innings along with 74 strikeouts and a 1.02 WHIP. He walked only 10 hitters.
Certainly a highlight of his inaugural season for the then 18-year-old Crawford came on just his third professional start. On June 11 he and teammates Wally Vrolijk and Johan Diaz combined to no-hit the DSL Mets. He struck out nine and walked one over 6.1 innings before giving way to relief help.
The DSL Dodgers no-hitter was the first in the Dominican Summer League since former Yankees prospect Rafael De Paula threw a rain-shortened five-inning no-hitter on August 7, 2012.
As you might expect, Crawford was all smiles after his no-hit performance last year.
(Image courtesy of Laprensa.com.ni)
The 6’ 0”- 180-pound Crawford began the 2016 campaign with the Arizona league Dodgers. Over 38.1 innings he ranks fifth in the league with a 2.58 ERA and third in strikeouts with 39 as well third in the league with a 0.99 WHIP. He continued to have a strong strikeout to walk ratio as he walked only 7 hitters in his eight appearances.
On Sunday in his debut at the Class-A level the 19-year-old Crawford held the South Bend Cubs to two runs over 5.2 innings on six hits while striking out three and walking one. He threw 89 pitches, 60 of them for strikes. The Loons went on to lose the game 5-2 as reliever Ivan Vieitez gave up three runs in the seventh innings.
With the addition of Crawford to the Loons staff the Great Lakes squad now has two 19-year-old pitchers and four 20-year-old starting pitchers.
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It is an impressive array of young pitchers. Some are more advanced/developed and we should know maybe by next year whether that development will pushed up the organization. I can see Dennis Santana, Iman Abdullah, and Yadier Alveraz getting a Rancho assignment beginning of next year. Santana is not on the top prospect list but Alveraz and Abdullah both are.
Harold, I know losing Grant Holmes was tough, but do you think the development of both Alveraz and Abdullah gave some comfort to Friedman/Zaidi to make the trade?
No doubt in my mind Grant became expendable because of the stable of young arms coming on. Also I do believe he would have morphed into a reliever, albeit possibly a very good one, with the Dodgers.
Loons starters all 21 or younger. In fact only two are 21 – Jordan Sheffield turned 21 in June and Michael White 21 in December.
Caleb Ferguson, Victor Gonzalez, Yadier Alvarez, Dennis Santana – 20.
Imani Abdullah, Leonardo Crawford – 19.
Among that group three lefties, five righties.
I think all of those guys will make it to the Quakes at some point next year. Sheffield and Alvarez will definitely start the season there. Would not be surprised to see Michael White do the same. He is a pitcher.
Victor Gonzalez has been valuable with the Loons. He looks like he has tires as the season has progressed.