The San Francisco Giants have won the most games in the history of American baseball and have appeared in 18 World Series matchups. This past 2010 season was once for the record books as they broke the third longest World Series winning drought in the league by winning their 1st Championship since 1954. The Giants look to continue their 2010 success this season with dominant starting pitching from two-time Cy Young award winner Tim Lincecum.
Former Northwoods League players Steve Edlefsen and Brandon Crawford are currently working hard in Spring Training along side Lincecum towards the Giants goal of another World Series Championship.
Steve Edlefsen was a two-year member of the NWL as he played in St. Cloud in 2004 and Duluth in 2006 as a right handed pitcher. The Minneapolis native was drafted by the Red Sox in 2004 out of high school, but attended Barton County Community College and the University of Nebraska and was again drafted in 2007 in the 16th round by the Giants.
The right handed pitcher has four years of Minor League Baseball experience and recently reached Triple-A. In 2010, Edlefsen was a member of the Fresno Grizzlies of the Pacific Coast League. He finished the season with a 7-2 record and is now a member of the Giants 40-man roster.
Brandon Crawford spent one season in the NWL with Mankato in 2005 as an infielder. The former UCLA standout was drafted in the 4th round of the 2008 MLB Draft by the Giants. The left handed hitting Crawford has split the past two season in Single-A and Double-A. In 2010 Crawford played shortstop for the San Jose Giants (Single-A) of the California League and also the Richmond Flying Squirrels (Double-A) of the Eastern League.
Follow Edlefsen and Crawford as these two young prospects reach their goal of playing in the Major Leagues.