FSL Scouting Scores: Justin Crawford-Phillies

Welcome to the first instillation of the not-yet-critically acclaimed FSL Scouting Scores, where we break down some of the top Florida State League prospects at the single-A level.

In today’s inaugural Scouting Scores look-at, we will scout and have a glimpse at the #4-ranked prospect in the Philadelphia Phillies system, Justin Crawford.

The scores that will be given are on a 1–10 scale and will be on batting, fielding, and baserunning. The three scores will then be averaged and used to determine the current development rating.

The Preview

Justin Crawford, the son of former star outfielder Carl Crawford, was born on January 13th, 2004 in Phoenix, AZ.

Drafted in the 1st round of last year’s MLB Draft by the Philadelphia Phillies organization, Crawford comes into 2023 looking very similar to his father, sharing an almost identical batting stance and being a speed threat on the base paths.

Crawford is currently with the Clearwater Threshers, the Single-A Florida State League affiliate for the Phillies, as he enters his first full season of pro ball after concluding 2022 in Single-A Clearwater after only playing 11 games in the Complex League to start.

Crawford finished last season in only 16 games of pro baseball under his belt with a.241 batting average, 7 bases on balls, 14 base hits, and 10 stolen bases—a solid set of numbers to start out his pro career in the minors.

To start the 2023 season, Crawford has started out strong in nine games, racking up eight hits in 38 at-bats as of April 20th.

 

Batting

Score: 6.5

Crawford is a hitter that has room for development; however, he succeeds at what he is known for in his skill set.

Just going off the numbers, Crawford has run into some early strikeout troubles in his career, something that truly isn’t any cause for concern being that he has played in less than a month’s worth of games on the season.

Beyond the numbers, Crawford has a swing that is very similar to his father’s, in which he has his hands out a bit in his stance and his front foot offset in the box, closer to the dugout.

Crawford, although he doesn’t have the power that his father showed a bit in the big leagues, does have the hitting abilities to put him on base and truly allow him to get into his wheelhouse, which is his baserunning, which will be discussed later in this piece.

If Crawford can stay consistent at the dish and not try for anything flashy, he can be a solid hitter at the plate; however, we will have to wait to see if he can grow into any potential power he may have.

Fielding

Score: 7.5

Although Crawford still needs to develop in all three categories, his fielding has upside.

Crawford has a fluid throw and has been stellar in the field, with a perfect fielding percentage to start out his pro career in the organization.

While Carl Crawford wasn’t always a consistent fielder, Justin Crawford feels like a player who could be a defensive threat on the field in the Philadelphia system for years.

Granite, while we haven’t seen many games for him in pro ball, has surely impressed in his time so far in centerfield for the organization.

 

Baserunning

Score: 7.5

Crawford’s baserunning is arguably the most developed part of his game at the moment.

While there is upside in his fielding, Crawford has the speed to steal, having stolen 10 bases in 16 total games and only getting caught four times.

To start the year here in 2023, he already has six stolen bases; however, he was caught stealing in his game tonight against Tampa.

Crawford has the wheels on the base path, and with bigger bases, Crawford could be very much like his father in terms of the high stolen base numbers. However, nothing that Crawford ever put up in his big-league career, in which he had seasons where he stole just south of 60 bases.

Devlopment

Score: 7.2

Crawford has all the tools to be a solid player in his pro career.

Although there is the unknown of what his role could potentially be with the Phillies or even in the league, Crawford has the fielding and baserunning skills that can make him someone who will be used in some capacity.

Crawford will be someone who will be used similarly to the way his father was in the league.