Crawford impresses for US Team in All-Star Futures Game

In Cincinatti on Sunday afternoon, top Phillies prospect J.P. Crawford contributed to the offensive barrage for the United States Team in the MLB All-Star Futures Game, going 1-for-3 with a run-scoring single while scoring a run himself.

The US Team was up 5-1 when Crawford exited the game following the 5th inning.  Led by key hits from Rockies prospect Trevor Story and Mets prospect Brandon Nimmo, the club would double their score and increase their lead to 10-1 over the World Team in the 6th inning.

Crawford also impressed on defense, nabbing a liner on a leaping catch and turning a slick double play in the 5th frame.

This was the 20-year-old lefty batter’s second trip to the Futures Game.  He went 1-for-2 with a stolen base in last year’s contest, just 13 months after he was drafted 16th overall in the 2013 draft.

Another Phillies prospect honored to be on the US roster in this year’s annual exhibition was starting pitcher Aaron Nola, who did not pitch in the game, after throwing six innings for Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Friday.

In 17 starts combined for Double-A Reading and Lehigh Valley this season, the 22-year-old LSU product has tallied a 10-3 record with a 2.03 ERA and a 7.53 K/9. Nola was drafted 7th overall last year by the Phils.

The game was still in progress at the time this post was published.