Aaron Crow
A flame-throwing reliever who rocketed from first-round draft pick to an All-Star rookie season with his blistering fastball.
Born 1986 (age 40)·American baseball pitcher·Birthday: November 10·Millennials
Biography
Aaron Crow's baseball story is one of a pitcher whose arm was both his ticket to the majors and his greatest adversary. Selected in the first round of the 2009 draft by the Washington Nationals, he was quickly traded to the Kansas City Royals, where he made an immediate and explosive impact. In his 2011 rookie season, Crow's high-velocity fastball and sharp slider made him nearly unhittable, earning him a spot on the American League All-Star team—a rare feat for a rookie reliever. He became a reliable workhorse in the Royals' bullpen for several seasons, a bridge to their later championship-era closers. However, the tremendous torque of his delivery eventually took its toll, leading to Tommy John surgery in 2015. His attempts to return to his former dominance were thwarted by persistent elbow issues, cutting short a career that promised even greater heights.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Aaron was born in 1986, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Aaron Was Born
The biggest hits of 1986
#1 Movie
Top Gun
Best Picture
Platoon
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Aaron's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1986Born
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1991Started school
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1999Became a teenager
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Could drive
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2004Could vote
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Turned 21
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2016Turned 30
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 40
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Selected as an American League All-Star in his rookie season (2011) as a relief pitcher for the Kansas City Royals.
- Pitched in 73 games in his debut season, posting a 2.76 ERA and establishing himself as a key bullpen arm.
- Was the 12th overall pick in the first round of the 2009 MLB Draft by the Washington Nationals.
- Appeared in 254 major league games over five seasons, all but one of them in relief.
Did You Know?
He played college baseball at the University of Missouri, where he was a starter before transitioning to relief in the pros.
In his All-Star rookie year, he did not record a single save, highlighting his role as a setup man.
He was traded from the Nationals to the Royals just a year after being drafted, before playing a major league game for Washington.
He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2015 while with the Miami Marlins.
“A fastball down the middle is just a question waiting for an answer.”
