13 June 2007

Blue Jays draft Crowell

By Matt Rice
GateHouse News Service
Wed Jun 13, 2007, 08:40 AM EDT 

Harwich - Cody Crowell, a 2003 graduate of Harwich High School and lefty pitcher from Vanderbilt University, was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays as the 445 overall pick in last week’s two-day MLB amateur draft.
     Crowell, who hasn’t decided yet whether he will go to the Jays, was a top prospect when he and his Rough Rider teammates reached the state semi-finals in 2003.
     After forgoing any offers to be drafted after high school, Crowell decided to attend Vanderbilt University in Tennessee. He red-shirted his freshman year, then in his sophomore year, he struck out 17 batters in 16 innings pitched, and had a 2-0 record and 1.12 ERA working out of the bullpen.
     He spent the 2005 summer playing for the Harwich Mariners, where he was 1-6 with an ERA of 4.23 in 18 appearances. Despite the high ERA, Crowell did manage to strike out 28 batters while only allowing one walk.
     The 6-foot, 3-inch, 213-pounder returned to Vanderbilt in 2006, where he went 6-2 as a starter, with a 3.95 ERA. He also notched 52 strikeouts and allowed 21 walks.
     Crowell returned to the Cape League in 2006, this time as a starter for the Brewster Whitecaps. He registered a 2-2 record and a 3.14 ERA in seven games started for Brewster, which made the playoffs. In more than 48 innings pitched, Crowell allowed just 39 hits.
     In his 2007 campaign at Vanderbilt, Crowell went 4-1, with a 4.05 ERA working out of the bullpen.
Crowell now has to make the decision to sign a contract with the Jays or consider other options, which include returning to Vanderbilt for his fourth year of eligibility, or signing with another professional baseball league, as did former teammate Adam Laplante with the Canadian-American league last month. Or he can wait and re-enter the draft next year.