MANKATO, Minn. – Former MoonDog short stop Brandon Crawford earned his second World Series championship in three year last night when the San Francisco Giants defeated the Kansas City Royals in a memorable Game 7 contest.
Crawford spent the summer of 2005 calling Mankato his home before going onto play collegiately at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). As the youngest MoonDog in team history Crawford showed the potential that eventually led to the Giants drafting him in the fourth round of the 2008 MLB Draft. As a MoonDog, Crawford appeared in 42 games while posting a .276 Batting Average with nine doubles and 12 RBI.
Crawford has been the Giant’s starting short stop since 2012, when he won his first World Series. In 2014 Crawford had his best year as a professional. He appeared 153 games and had career highs in Home Runs (10) RBI (69) Doubles (20) Triples (10) and Walks (59). He also stabilized the middle of the Giant’s infield by playing excellent defense at Short Stop.
Brandon is one of nine former MoonDogs to advance to the Major Leagues. However, he is the only MoonDog alumni to win a world championship.
Season tickets are on sale now in the MoonDogs ticket office located at 1221 Caledonia St. or by calling (507) 625-7047
The Mankato MoonDogs are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 21st season of summer collegiate baseball, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 115 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (DET) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Allen Craig (BOS) and Ben Zobrist (TB). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League YouTube channel. For more information, visit www.mankatomoondogs.com. – See more at: http://northwoodsleague.com/mankato-moondogs/2014/08/28/10-moondogs-among-northwoods-leagues-top-200-prospects/#sthash.92TbYugD.dpuf
—End—