Beloved SF Giants shortstop makes surprise appearance at Cactus League game

There has been no shortage of SF Giants legends and heroes in spring training camp the past month. Another name can be added to that list as shortstop Brandon Crawford was spotted taking in the action of Tuesday night's game against the San Diego Padres.

During the game's broadcast, announcers Duane Kuiper and Hunter Pence, a former teammate of Crawford's, noted that Crawford was in attendance as the camera showed him taking in the action in a booth alongside general manager Zack Minasian, presumably with president of baseball operations Buster Posey not too far away.

SF Giants legend Brandon Crawford makes surprise appearance at Cactus League game

It is cool to see Crawford watching the team in spring training. We do not yet know if he is going to be lending any wisdom as a guest instructor, but even if he did just decide to come out and check out a game it is always great to have a Brandon Crawford sighting. It does make sense given the fact that he and his family live in Scottsdale, Arizona so it was just a short drive for him to catch a game at Scottsdale Stadium.

The four-time Gold Glove Award winner retired from baseball this past offseason after a great career. His skills with the glove as well as his transformation from a weak link in the lineup to a legitimate offensive threat made him the best shortstop in franchise history.

Posey talked about how it may take some time for Crawford to be ready to be around the game again so soon after retirement which is totally understandable. After so many years of playing baseball, there is going to be that awkward adjustment period where you try and acclimate yourself to not playing for most of the year.

One hopes that as Crawford gets older he will spend more and more time around the team. He was a huge part of the 2012 and 2014 World Series teams and he has so much knowledge to pass on to younger players on the Giants.

Even if this brief glimpse on Tuesday night's broadcast is the only time we see Crawford in spring training, we will see Crawford in just over a month on Brandon Crawford Day at Oracle Park on April 26th where the Giants will celebrate him for his great career.