All-Diamond Team: Brandon Crawford
In 2025, The Diamond hosts its 40th and final season of professional baseball in Richmond. Between the Richmond Braves from 1985-2008 and the Richmond Flying Squirrels since 2010, countless future major leaguers have taken the steps from the first base dugout onto The Diamond’s playing surface.
In 2025, The Diamond hosts its 40th and final season of professional baseball in Richmond. Between the Richmond Braves from 1985-2008 and the Richmond Flying Squirrels since 2010, countless future major leaguers have taken the steps from the first base dugout onto The Diamond’s playing surface.
Prior to the season, fans voted for The All-Diamond Team, selecting one manager as well as 14 of their favorite players who have gone on to MLB stardom after suiting up for the R-Braves and Flying Squirrels.
We continue the announcement of the All-Diamond Team with the fans’ choice for shortstop, Brandon Crawford.
Manager: Grady Little
Starting Pitcher: John Smoltz
Starting Pitcher: Tom Glavine
Starting Pitcher: Logan Webb
Relief Pitcher: Mike Stanton
Relief Pitcher: Hunter Strickland
Utility Player: Mark DeRosa
Catcher: Javy Lopez
First Baseman: Ryan Klesko
Second Baseman: Joe Panik
Third Baseman: Chipper Jones
Shortstop: Brandon Crawford
Outfielder: TBA
Outfielder: TBA
Outfielder: TBA
The most notable alum in Flying Squirrels history to date, Brandon Crawford’s time in Richmond began at the very start of the franchise.
Selected by the Giants in the fourth round of the 2008 MLB Draft out of UCLA, Crawford was part of the final Connecticut Defenders team in 2009, his first stretch of games at the Double-A level.
Crawford returned to Double-A for the 2010 season with the brand-new Flying Squirrels, playing their first season after moving south from Norwich.
Baseball America ranked Crawford as the No. 9 Giants prospect that year, touting his strong defensive skills at shortstop.
He was the Flying Squirrels’ Opening Day shortstop in their first-ever game on April 8, 2010 at Bowie.
While the Flying Squirrels struggled on the road to begin their inaugural season, Crawford did not. The team lost six-of-seven games to open the year, but Crawford, with a season of Double-A experience already under his belt, batted .381 in that stretch.
With a 1-6 record entering their first home opener, the Flying Squirrels did begin their time at The Diamond with a 3-0 win over the Reading Phillies on April 15, 2010. The visitors threatened to come back late, loading the bases with two outs in the top of the eighth inning, but Crawford made a diving catch on an infield line drive by Michael Spidale to escape the jam.
Through the first months of the season, Crawford shined defensively on the middle infield alongside second baseman Nick Noonan.
That summer, WRIC in Richmond a story on Crawford, showcasing trick plays during an afternoon workout. Clips from that report still pop up frequently from engagement farming social media accounts.
Crawford’s defense drew the most attention, but he had some big moments at the plate as well.
On May 20, Crawford hit his fourth homer of the season, an inside-the-park, three-run homer to help fuel a 5-1 Flying Squirrels win over the SeaWolves. Four days later, he hit a go-ahead homer in the eighth in a 3-2 Flying Squirrels win at Binghamton.
On July 1, he hit his second inside-the-park homer of the season and capped a 2-1 Flying Squirrels win over the SeaWolves with a walk-off double in the 12th inning.
Crawford’s time in Richmond came to a sudden end after he suffered a broken hand after being hit by a line drive during batting practice in early July, which essentially ended his season.
He was named an Eastern League All-Star but was unable to participate in the game in Harrisburg because of the injury. Crawford returned to the field on a rehab assignment in High-A in September and helped the San Jose Giants win the California League title.
Crawford missed the start of the season in 2011 with a broken finger and eventually reported to back to San Jose to start his season in May. Two weeks later, he was called up to the majors for the first time.
On May 27, 2011, Crawford made his major league debut for the Giants in Milwaukee. Trailing, 2-1, in the seventh inning, Crawford drove a go-ahead grand slam for his first MLB hit and the Giants went on to win, 5-4.
Crawford went on to play 14 years in the majors, including 13 with the Giants.
After being part of the first Flying Squirrels team to take the field, Crawford became the first Flying Squirrels alum to become a major league All-Star, the first to win a Gold Glove Award and is still the only former Flying Squirrel to win a Silver Slugger Award.
Crawford is the most decorated alum the Flying Squirrels have sent to the majors to date. He won two World Series titles with the Giants in 2012 and 2014. He was selected as a National League All-Star in 2015, 2018 and 2021. He won four Gold Glove Awards as the National League’s top defensive shortstop, taking three straight from 2015-2017 and winning another in 2021.
Crawford returned to Richmond in 2017 while on a rehab assignment from the Giants. He picked up four hits in two games in his return to The Diamond.
After 13 years in San Francisco, Crawford finished his MLB career with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2024.