Foothill Alum Brandon Crawford May Sign With Cardinals: Reports

PLEASANTON, CA — Three-time All-Star Brandon Crawford is signing with the St. Louis Cardinals, sources have reported to different outlets.

Crawford, a Pleasanton native who played for the San Francisco Giants from 2011 to 2023, is expected to serve as a backup shortstop behind Masyn Winn while the term waits for Tommy Edman to recover from wrist surgery, per The Athletic. The team has not confirmed the deal as of Monday, and sources say they will announce it after the results of a physical.

During his time as a Giants shortstop, Crawford won four Golden Glove Awards, three All-Stars, two Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Awards, and the Silver Slugger Award. He was also the sixth player in MLB history to hit a grand slam in his first MLB game, in addition to many other designations. He was instrumental in helping the Giants win the World Series in 2012 and 2014. He played his last game for the Giants in October before becoming a free agent.

Crawford graduated from Foothill High School in 2005, where he was a shortstop and pitcher for the baseball team, and safety and quarterback for the football team.

“He was that kind of student-athlete — one you rooted for,” Dennis Miller wrote in Pleasanton Weekly. “He should be an inspiration for every single youngster today who has dreams of playing professional sports. As he did when he was playing shortstop for the Giants, Crawford always made things look easy and effortless.”

“You hit Brandon a groundball and there’s definitely a different look to it,” former Foothill coach Brian Freitas told The San Francisco Chronicle. “I’d hit grounders to him and think, ‘This is what a big-league shortstop looks like.’ Just the smoothness and footwork. He always made it look so easy.”

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