Phillies Select Prep OF Justin Crawford 17th Overall

Jul 20, 2022

The Phillies, for the third year in a row, have drafted a high schooler with their first-round pick in the MLB Amateur Draft. This year, they took Nevada native (sound familiar), Justin Crawford 17th overall. Crawford’s dad, Carl, played parts of 15 years in the MLB with the Tampa Bay Rays, Boston Red Sox, and Los Angeles Dodgers. He was on the 2008 Rays’ team that lost to the Phillies in the World Series.

Crawford is 18 and an outfielder who attended Bishop Gorman High School in Nevada. If all pans out for him, he could be a leadoff man who hits for a high average, steals bases easily, and plays Gold Glove defense in centerfield. He will stay in center as long as his speed and legs allow him to. He could stay there his entire career. His biggest strength is his speed, as it was graded a 70 (plus-plus) out of 80 (elite) on the 20-80 scouting scale by MLB scouts. Beyond that is a glove and arm that are each plus. Crawford’s combination of speed, defensive instinct and ability, and throwing arm will allow him to be a great defender anywhere in the outfield, with center being the most premium. Centerfield is also the most pressing need for the Phillies at the moment.

Offensively, he is not as polished as some of the other prep outfielders that were taken earlier in the first round, like Druw Jones and Elijah Green. He has above-average contact skills which should allow him to hit around .280+ in the big leagues. He can develop his power further, which as now is also above-average.

This is a great pick for the Phillies-if they can develop him the right way. They have really bet on their player development system in the last three drafts, taking prep players early. Mick Abel, though rocky, has had a solid start to his pro career and seems to finding his way now. Andrew Painter is putting up historic numbers every time he takes the mound in A+. Although those guys are a long way away from the MLB, it’s exciting to see them producing at the level they are at. If they can replicate their early success with Crawford, the Phillies have an all-world talent on their hands.

Crawford’s 6’3” frame gives him the room to add more strength as time goes on. He will improve on his contact skill and will keep his plus-plus speed. There is a foundation here for him to grow into a five-tool superstar. A player he could be compared to is exciting Mariners’ rookie Julio Rodriguez. Rodriguez has it all. He’s just 21 and is blossoming into a superstar in his first year in the MLB. It did take him about a month to figure it out, but he’s an All-Star now. His floor is close to that of Michael A. Taylor. Taylor is a serviceable defender with good speed. He used to be a top prospect in the Nationals’ organization but was never able to put it together with them. Now, in Kansas City, he is being looked at as a trade target for teams that are looking for a defensive upgrade in any outfield position.

Crawford is very raw but has so much room to grow. He can bring an infusion of energy to the top of any lineup when he becomes a full-time major leaguer. His combination of present abilities and potential will make him the Phillies’ top position prospect in the organization immediately.

This was a great pick for the Phillies. They left talented pitchers on the board after making it clear the last two years that they would pull the trigger on one if they liked him enough, to take Crawford. They have the confidence in their player development system, which out of nowhere seems to be producing at least serviceable players that can get to the MLB. Once a player gets to the MLB, it is really on him to determine how much he succeeds based on work ethic. Help from the organization is still a part of getting better, but the pros are more or less on their own to figure it out. Bryson Stott, although a college pick, is finding his way now.

Phillies Select Prep OF Justin Crawford 17th Overall

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