PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Phillies have set themselves up to add a prospect to their organization with strong bloodlines in 2022 first-round pick Justin Crawford. Have the Phillies found their future center fielder? Time will tell, but the director of amateur scouting is optimistic about the future.
“What really helped me fall in love with [baseball] was just growing up in the clubhouse with him,” Crawford said of his dad, 15-year former major leaguer and four-time All-Star Carl Crawford. “Kind of just being able to see this everyday kind of … lifestyle.”
Carl was on the Tampa Bay Rays when the Phillies played them in the 2008 World Series. Justin, 18 and out of Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, said he doesn’t really remember that part of his dad’s career, but he did acknowledge that Philadelphia fans create an outstanding atmosphere in support of their teams.
Brian Barber, the Phillies’ director of amateur scouting, said, “To us he’s a no-doubt center fielder in the future, and I think it’s gonna be an elite defensive center fielder in the future.”
It would be nice for the Phillies to have an everyday center fielder, something they’ve struggled to have for the past several seasons, including this one. Production at the plate will have to come with that as well — not just defense.
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Barber said it’s probably not fair to compare Justin to his dad, in part because comps isn’t something he likes doing anyway. But, he said, while there are a lot of differences to their game, they’re both really fast. He said Justin is more advanced defensively, but Carl was bigger. So, strength is something the 6-foot-3, 175-pound outfielder needs to add as he develops.
“I think we’re getting an athlete for sure with good tools,” Barber said. “Makeup is through the roof with this kid. It really has so many things that we’re looking for in a player to come into the system. I really couldn’t be more excited to bring him in.”
Barber says he thinks Justin’s athleticism, plus his experiences with his dad in a major league clubhouse, watching how things operate, is a “pretty special combination.” Justin agreed speed and baseball IQ are strengths of his.
“That’s kind of been one of our biggest goals, is to be as polished as I can,” Justin said. “Not having to rely on just my raw athleticism is something that I know can take me a long way.”
Whether or not Clearwater is the next stop on that long way remains to be seen. Justin is committed to LSU, but Barber sounded optimistic they could sign him and not have this first-round pick go to waste.
“I feel good,” Barber said. “Until everybody’s name is on the dotted line, there’s always that part of the process, but I feel good about where we are right now.”
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Justin didn’t give a definitive yes when asked if he expected to have a deal with the Phillies, but he did say, “I’m gonna be down there soon and ready to go, and it’s gonna be a lot of fun.”
Assuming that happens and the Phils are able to develop Justin through their minor league system as planned, how does it sound to have a Vegas tandem in the Phillies outfield one day? Justin envisioned a fellowship with Bryce Harper, who is from Vegas, where Justin played high school baseball.
“Hopefully one day we’ll be playing out there together,” Justin said on MLB Network immediately after being drafted, “and it’ll be a lot of fun, and we’ll win a few championships together.”