The Philadelphia Phillies‘ farm system is not all that deep, but it has some serious talent at the top, and one of the organization’s best youngsters is outfielder Justin Crawford.
Crawford is so impressive, as a matter of fact, that the Phillies stated even before Spring Training that he was slated to win the starting center field job, even without any big-league experience.
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Well, that has now become a reality for Crawford, as ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel has reported that Philadelphia is selecting Crawford’s contract for the 40-man roster.
The third-ranked prospect in the Phillies’ system, Crawford has slashed .277/.320/.383 with two RBI over 50 plate appearances this spring while also flashing tremendous defensive potential.
Crawford was originally selected by Philadelphia with the 17th overall pick of the 2022 MLB Draft and proceeded to enjoy a brilliant minor-league campaign in 2023, slashing .332/.392/.467 with three homers and 64 RBI across 390 trips to the dish while also stealing 47 bases.
The 22-year-old — whose father, Carl Crawford, was a four-time MLB All-Star — has been incredibly productive ever since.
Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Justin Crawford. Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images.
Last year, Crawford slashed .334/.411/.452 with seven homers and 47 RBI through 506 plate appearances at Triple-A, swiping 46 bags.
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The Phillies had a relatively quiet offseason. While they re-signed Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto, they didn’t do a whole lot else, with outfielder Adolis Garcia and relief pitcher Brad Keller representing their only truly significant additions.
Philadelphia tried to land infielder Bo Bichette, but he spurned the Phillies for the New York Mets.
As a result of Philly’s rather lackluster offseason, fans are frustrated that Philadelphia appears to simply be running it back for 2026.
The Phillies have won 95-plus games each of the last two years, but they were bounced from the NLDS both times.
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Is Philadelphia’s current roster strong enough to actually make a World Series push? It remains to be seen, but clearly, the team trusts Crawford to deliver.
Of course, the Phillies will have between now and the August trade deadline to adjust their squad, and movement seems like an inevitability.
Philadelphia will host the Texas Rangers in its season opener next Thursday.
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