Former first rounder Justin Crawford shines in Double-A with speed, average

Justin Crawford was a 2022 first-round pick. (Ty Daubert, Phillies Nation)

This season has been quite the rise for former first-round pick Justin Crawford as he’s displayed the talent that made him the Phillies’ top choice in 2022. A smooth-moving center fielder with a high batting average, he’s cemented himself as one of Philadelphia’s best prospects after earning a Double-A promotion this summer

“Definitely been an adjustment,” Crawford said last week. “Better competition, better pitching. And obviously, I think their stuff has been a little sharper, a little firmer. But at the end of the day, the game’s the game, so I just try to go out there and play my game.”

The 20-year-old outfielder has played his game quite well this season as he’s climbed his way to the upper level of the Phillies’ farm system. He batted .301 in 70 games at High-A Jersey Shore to start the season, played in the MLB All-Star Futures Game along with teammate Aidan Miller, then moved up to Double-A Reading and has hit .331 since. Overall, he’s slashing .311/.359/.439 with eight home runs and 42 stolen bases in 105 minor-league games.

Crawford is currently riding a six-game hitting streak, something to keep track of as the Fightin Phils begin their final six-game series on Tuesday in Harrisburg.

Fightins manager Al Pedrique credits Crawford’s maturity and preparation as a driving force behind his success. Crawford has a routine that he adheres to, loves playing the game and isn’t afraid to ask questions. He’s already shown his skills, and he’s willing to continue to work and grow as a player.

“He’s one of the kids that is great to work with,” Pedrique said. “He pays attention to detail. He’s wants to do well every night, and his speed is going to put a lot of pressure on the defense.”

The son of former All-Star outfielder Carl Crawford, Justin Crawford’s game-changing speed and his contact ability have been the staples of his game since he was selected with the No. 17 pick by Philadelphia two summers ago. He’s a no-doubt defensive center fielder and has racked up 99 stolen bases in 208 career games in the minors. The left-handed hitter has batted well over .300 in each of his first two full seasons. It’s a promising and intriguing combination for a prospect.

The main flaw in Crawford’s game, however, continues to be how often he hits the ball on the ground. He’s able to put the bat on the ball, but the quality of the contact is not always the best. He posted a 69.7% ground-ball rate last year, a number that would likely be too high for the majors. A lot of grounders that turn into hits in the minors get handled by major-league infielders. It’s an area Crawford has paid attention to this season. He appreciates the way an infield hit can give him a boost and wants to continue to use his speed to his advantage, but knows there’s more damage to be done.

“Obviously, I’m trying to drive the ball more and I feel like I’ve done a pretty decent job at doing that, taking a step in the right direction this year,” he said. “But also kind of knowing … that is part of my game, so I don’t want to get away from that all the way.”

Crawford has increased his line-drive rate to around 19% in 2024, and his ground-ball rate has dropped a bit as well. It was 60.6% with Jersey Shore and is now 63.0% with the Fightins. Those ground-ball rates are still quite high, but it’s an encouraging sign that they’ve decreased.

Despite the issues with ground balls, Crawford has undoubtedly impressed so far in his career. He has impact tools and room to improve, putting the outfielder in a great position to keep moving up in the Phillies organization.