Philly Leader

Justin Crawford, a promising prospect for the Philadelphia Phillies, is making strides in his baseball career. During a recent Grapefruit League game against the Tigers, Crawford hit a 92.8 mph fastball with an exit velocity of 108.4 mph. Despite being caught, it was the hardest-hit ball of the afternoon.

Reflecting on his progress, Crawford remarked, “That pitch? It probably would have gone straight to the shortstop.” He acknowledged improvements since 2023 and speculated on further development over the next five to ten years.

Crawford is currently ranked as the No. 64 overall prospect by MLB Pipeline. Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski suggested that Crawford could advance quickly to the major leagues but does not anticipate an MLB debut this year.

“Obviously, that’s really, really cool to hear,” Crawford commented on Dombrowski's statement. “But for me, personally, I just try to control what I can control.”

Selected as the 17th overall pick in the 2022 Draft, Crawford has demonstrated significant potential due to his speed and defensive skills in center field. Since signing at 160 pounds, he has increased his weight to 195 pounds and noticed improvements in hitting power.

A concern regarding Crawford’s performance has been his tendency to hit ground balls frequently. However, this percentage decreased from previous years' figures. Phillies manager Rob Thomson stated comfort with this trend given Crawford's speed.

General manager Preston Mattingly expressed optimism about Crawford's future hitting profile: “I think this kid’s going to have real power.”

Crawford emphasized ongoing efforts to improve his batting technique: “I’ve just been working to get the head out, catch the ball out front a little more.”

Participating in his first big league camp but familiar with major league environments due to his father Carl Crawford's career, Justin feels at ease among teammates like Brandon Marsh and Nick Castellanos.

As he continues refining his skills, Crawford remains focused on reaching major league status: “This isn’t something that happens overnight... The goal is to get up here and help this team win a championship.”