Trevor Crowe

I don't think it is a terrible exaggeration to say that this season is of the utmost importance to Trevor Crowe's development. It might not quite be make or break, but it is very close to it.

To give you background, Crowe was drafted 14th in the 2005 draft, a draft that is shaping up to be one for the ages (Justin Upton 1st, Alex Gordon 2nd, Jeff Clement 3rd, Ryan Zimmerman 4th, Ryan Braun 5th, Troy Tulowitzki 7th, Cameron Maybin 10th, Andrew McCutchen 11th, Jay Bruce 12th, Jacoby Ellsbury 23rd, Matt Garza 25th, Colby Rasmus 28th with others after the first round). Drafted out of the University of Arizona, it was thought that Crowe was close to the majors. He was looked at as a leadoff center fielder. It was hoped that he would develop average power.

Entering 2008, a few things have become clear. Grady Sizemore is the Indians center fielder and leadoff hitter. It is also clear that Crowe will not develop even average power. We're subsequently talking about a corner outfielder without much power. For this to work, he needs to do something else very, very well. To solve this problem, the Indians briefly considered converting Crowe to play second base, an experiment that was short lived.

Despite this, Baseball America rated Crowe the Indians 3rd best prospect entering 2007. He had torn through Hi-A Kinston in 2006, hitting .323/.449/.470 before struggling at AA Akron to the tune of .234/.318/.325. John Sickels, another prospect maven, was slightly less optimistic on Crowe, concerned about his AA struggles, but was still generally favorable, giving him a B- grade (which is actually pretty good from Sickels.)

Unfortunately, 2007 was unkind to Crowe. Through June, he hit only .212/.304/.263 at Akron. His swing mechanically fell apart - he had far more movement than he ever had before. However, he recovered in the second half, hitting .310/.380/.459. His overall line was still an ugly .256/.338/.351.

As a result, Baseball America dropped him to the 13th best prospect in the Indians system, a system that declined in 2007 due to players graduating to the majors. Sickels dropped him a half grade. But have things really changed for Crowe?

I don't think they really have. His major league ceiling is probably similar to what he did in the second half of 2007. There's no doubt that a player who does what Crowe did in the 2nd half in Akron would be an asset at the major league level, even if he's forced to play in left field. It would take a team or an organization that is able to focus on what Crowe would do well (get on base) as opposed to what he does not (hit for power). Fortunately for Crowe, he is in such an organization.

It still holds, however, that 2008 is a vitally important season for Crowe. It remains to be seen which was the real Crowe - the first half, the second half, or if his overall performance for the 2007 season is more a reflection of his true level of ability. Whether the team decides to start Crowe back at Akron in an effort to hold his gains, or or challenge him at Buffalo, he is definitely one of the most important players in the Indians system to keep an eye on.