Top prospect Crawford promoted to Triple-A

It was announced on Friday that top Phillies prospect J.P. Crawford has been promoted from Double-A Reading to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

In 36 games with Reading this year, the 21-year-old shortstop posted a .265 average with three home runs and 13 RBI.  Most impressive was Crawford’s ability to get on base at a high rate.  His 30 walks were tops in the Eastern League while his .398 OBP ranked fourth.

Crawford, the Phillies’ top draft pick in 2013, had been ready for a promotion, and spoke with me last week (click here for those quotes

) about the possibility of being promoted, after his manager, Dusty Wathan, asserted it was just a matter of time before the young lefty batter would be moved up.

Expect Crawford to be in the lineup for the IronPigs on Friday night at Coca Cola Park as they host Toledo at 7:05 pm.