Inside The Phillies

Crawford Quickly Showing Why He's A Phillies Top Prospect

Just a year into his professional career, Justin Crawford is putting together a great season for the Clearwater Threshers.

Matthew Postins

Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
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Last summer the Philadelphia Phillies took Justin Crawford in the first round of the MLB Draft. It’s not a big surprise that he’s already making an impact in the minor leagues.

MLB.com highlighted one draft pick from each team that is off to the best start since their selection last July. The site selected Crawford, who is the son of former Major Leaguer Carl Crawford.

He’s the No. 4 prospect in the Phillies’ organization.

Philadelphia selected him straight out of Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Nev. He got in 16 games in the minor last year after his selection. But with Clearwater in the Florida State League, his numbers have popped, per MLB.com:

The power hasn’t come yet, but he has hit 19 balls 100 mph or harder en route to hitting .336/.394/.436, placing him second in the batting race. He’s also third in stolen bases, with 24 in 27 attempts.

Crawford hadn’t hit a home run in his first 40 games this season. But he drove in 27 runs, scored 32 runs and did that in just 157 official at-bats.

He may be on a similar track to his father, who was the Tampa Bay Rays’ second-round pick in 1999 out of Davis High School in Houston, Texas.

The elder Crawford made his MLB debut at age 20 with the Rays after three full minor leagues seasons. After taking his bow in 2002, he played until 2016 at age 34, when his career ended with the Dodgers. 

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Matthew Postins
MATTHEW POSTINS

Matthew Postins is an award-winning sports journalist who covers the Texas Rangers, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros for Sports Illustrated/FanNation. He also covers he Big 12 for Heartland College Sports.

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