J.P. Crawford

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #1 prospect in 2018
  Crawford is the top prospect in the organization for the fourth straight season, but it hasn't been a smooth ride up the ladder. The No. 13 overall pick in 2013 made fast progress initially, reaching Double-A as a 20-year-old in 2015. Yet when Crawford spent most of 2016 in Triple-A Lehigh Valley, he struggled, and when he returned to the IronPigs in 2017 his poor performance continued. By June 10, his slash line had dropped to .194/.313/.252. He took the next nine days off to rest a nagging groin strain and take a mental break, and when he returned he looked like a different player. Crawford finished the season on a tear, batting .280/.381/.522 with 13 home runs in his final 71 games. He made his big league debut as a September callup. Even when he struggles, Crawford stands out for his plate discipline. He's a patient, selective hitter who recognizes offspeed pitches, piles up walks and is a an on-base threat. At times, his strike-zone judgment was the only offensive attribute working for him. He got into a bad habit of pulling off the ball, causing his hips to fly open. That created a longer swing path, left him vulnerable to pitches on the outer third and cut into his ability to drive the ball. Crawford adjusted in the second half by setting up his hands closer to his body and keeping his lower half in his swing better. The changes improved his swing efficiency and helped him stay through the ball. Crawford's offensive game is still centered around hitting line drives, but he showed the potential for 15-plus home runs. Crawford struggled on defense early in the season, but by the end of the year he again looked like a true shortstop with good athleticism and range, quick hands, a smooth transfer and an accurate, above-average arm. He shifted to third base in August to get accustomed to the position with Freddy Galvis then at shortstop in Philadelphia. Crawford's extended struggles in Triple-A can't simply be dismissed, but his turnaround showed he still has the talent to be a centerpiece player. With Galvis traded to the Padres, Crawford should step in as the Phillies' everyday shortstop and develop into an above-average player.
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  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #1 prospect in 2017
  For the third straight season, Crawford ranks as the Phillies' top prospect. It's a ranking that comes after a season in which he didn't take the next big leap forward that was expected of him coming into the year, but he's still one of the game's elite shortstop prospects. His athleticism runs in the family--he's a cousin of Carl Crawford and his father played football at Iowa State and the Canadian Football League--but it's the combination of athleticism and polished baseball skills for his age that have made Crawford stand out since his high school days. The Phillies selected him with the No. 16 overall pick in the 2013 draft and signed him for $2,299,300. Crawford moved through the system quickly, reaching Double-A Reading as a 20-year-old in 2015 in a season that ended when he tore a ligament in his thumb in the Arizona Fall League. He opened 2016 by returning to Reading, where he spent six weeks before playing the rest of the season at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He missed one week in August with an injured oblique. Crawford hit .250/.349/.339 with seven home runs in 123 games between the two stops. Crawford's best offensive asset is his plate discipline. He has nearly as many walks (232) as strikeouts (243) in his career and shows a keen eye at the plate by recognizing offspeed pitches and rarely expanding the strike zone. Even as he went through growing pains upon reaching Triple-A, his strike-zone judgment remained intact. Crawford is a high-contact hitter with an efficient, compact swing from the left side, which combined with his plate discipline gives him a chance to be a high on-base threat at the top of a lineup. When Crawford struggled, he had a habit of stepping in the bucket and leaking open early with his hips, creating a longer path to the ball. His ability to keep his hands back and control the bat head still allowed him to make contact, however. When his swing is in sync, Crawford stays inside the ball well, with a chance to be an above-average hitter. Getting stronger will be critical for him because his power is mostly to the gaps, with the occasional home run to the pull side. His power hasn't developed as quickly as some evaluators expected, but between his bat speed and room to fill out his frame, Crawford could develop average pop in the future. In the field, Crawford shows plus defense, a mixture of athleticism, actions and instincts. With average speed, he isn't a burner on the basepaths, but he has a quick first step and reads the ball well off the bat, providing him with plenty of range at shortstop. Crawford is a fluid defender who can make plays to either side with his plus throwing arm, which plays up because of his fast hands and quick transfer. Crawford isn't on the Phillies' 40-man roster yet, though he hasn't shown enough yet to merit a spot in the Opening Day lineup ahead of incumbent Freddy Galvis. Instead, he should return to Triple-A, with an opportunity to force his way to the major leagues by the all-star break. If everything clicks, the Phillies should have a franchise cornerstone at shortstop.
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  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #1 prospect in 2016
  Crawford first popped onto the Phillies' radar in 2012 when their convoy of scouts was watching his high school teammate, righthander Shane Watson. They popped Watson with their sandwich-round choice that year and then returned a year later to nab Crawford with the No. 16 overall pick. They handed him a $2,299,300 bonus to steer him away from a commitment to Southern California. While Watson has failed to ascend past low Class A, Crawford overcame a spring oblique injury to become a midseason all-star in the Double-A Eastern League. He has athleticism in his blood: his father Larry played two years in the Canadian Football League and his cousin is Dodgers all-star outfielder Carl Crawford. While he's no more than an average runner, Crawford has the range, athleticism and actions to stick as a shortstop at the highest level. He relies on an excellent first step and above-average instincts. He's not a flashy player, and while he made 21 errors to rank second among EL shortstops, he paced the league with 64 double plays, and he generally gets the job done in reliable and consistent fashion. The Phillies did work to hone his backhand this year, a minor wrinkle in his overall game. He also worked to maintain consistent concentration to keep from whiffing on routine plays, which was a bugaboo at times in 2015. His arm is above-average, too, and it plays even better because of the accuracy of his throws, which helps his arm play up to double-plus for some evaluators. His quick hands and exchange also help his arm play up. At the plate, Crawford's discipline is above-average, especially for someone his age, and he has nearly as many career walks (160) as strikeouts (163). That falls in line with the views expressed by those who saw him in the EL this season and praised Crawford for an advanced two-strike approach. That plate discipline helps his already excellent hit tool play up to the point that he could be a plus hitter once he reaches the majors. Scouts also note he does an excellent job staying inside the ball with a compact lefthanded stroke. He's got pull power now, and most evaluators give him a chance for at least average pop at the highest level. His instincts will allow him to steal a bag every now and again, but he'll never be a major threat on the basepaths. The Phillies at this point are just concerned with Crawford getting more repetitions. If there is one thing they'd like to see before he heads to the major leagues, it's a little more strength on Crawford's frame. He'll need that extra muscle to hold up against the rigors of a full season in the major leagues. After an excellent season at Double-A, Crawford embarked on a trip to the Arizona Fall League to continue to add polish. Unfortunately, his time there ended when he tore a ligament in his left thumb. Even so, he's still slated to begin 2016 as the gem of a stocked Triple-A Lehigh Valley club that will also house Andrew Knapp, Jake Thompson and Nick Williams. Shortly thereafter he'll have a chance to join Maikel Franco and Aaron Nola as the new core of the Phillies. At his best, he has a future as an all-star shortstop who can play above-average defense and hit for power.
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  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #1 prospect in 2015
  Crawford first popped onto the Phillies' radar while they were scouting righthander Shane Watson, a high school teammate whom they eventually took as a supplemental first-round pick in 2012. They were so enamored of Crawford's overall skill set that they took him with their first-round choice in 2013 and signed him for $2,299,300, then watched as he won the batting title (.345) in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in his professional debut. Crawford built on that performance in 2014 with a stellar season split between low Class A Lakewood and high Class A Clearwater that cemented his status as one of the best prospects in baseball and as a shortstop who should have no problem sticking at the position longterm. He's the cousin of Dodgers outfielder Carl Crawford and the son of a former football player at Iowa State and in the Canadian Football League. All the pieces are there for Crawford to be a potential all-star at shortstop with strong contributions on both sides of the ball. Evaluators' biggest question is how much impact he'll have at the plate. Some look at his above-average raw sock in batting practice and eight home runs in a half-season in the large parks of the Florida State League and project a player who could produce 20-25 homers annually. Others are less confident, projecting more than 10-12 homers, but the Phillies say he still has plenty of strength to gain, which of course will help his potential power output. In either case, all evaluators believe he will be an above-average hitter, especially considering the keen eye that manifested itself as a nearly 1-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio this summer. That was particularly impressive at Clearwater, where he played as a 19-year-old and had a stretch in July when he struck out just twice over 62 at-bats. He's capable of being a spectacular defender with strong baseball instincts and a plus arm. The Phillies worked with Crawford in instructional league on improving his comfort level on the backhanded play, for he was a bit more careless in the FSL, committing 17 of his 29 errors on the season. He shows a strong internal clock and an excellent baseball IQ, and he doesn't take his bat at-bats into the field with him. The only other area where Crawford earns below-average marks is his running, where he's below-average out of the box but uses long strides to kick it up to average underway. Multiple evaluators have noted that Crawford is a duckfooted, heel-toe style runner, which could partly contribute to his slow times to first base. He was nevertheless aggressive, if not efficient, in stealing 24 bases in 38 attempts. Crawford is on line to head to Double-A Reading in 2015 to get his first taste of the upper levels and work toward fulfilling his role as Jimmy Rollins' heir to shortstop at Citizens Bank Park. The 36-year-old Rollins has one year left on his contract, and a strong 2015 would set up Crawford to replace him by 2016. If everything clicks, he has the potential to be an all-star for many years to come.
• 
  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #3 prospect in 2014
  Crawford clearly comes from premium stock. He's the cousin of Dodgers outfielder Carl Crawford, and his father played football at Iowa State and in the Canadian Football League. The Phillies first saw Crawford as a high school junior when they were scouting his teammate, 2012 first-rounder Shane Watson. (They also drafted Travis d'Arnaud from the school in 2007.) Crawford won the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League batting title after signing and finished the year with low Class A Lakewood. Crawford combines athleticism with Southern California polish and has drawn rave reviews in his brief foray in pro ball. He gets plus marks for his play at shortstop, where he has soft hands, an above-average arm and a good knack for the game. Although his lefthanded swing can get long at times, he has a good feel to hit, hand-eye coordination and plenty of bat speed to make evaluators believe he will hit for average. He'll have to get stronger to hit for any kind of home run power. He'll return to Lakewood to open the season.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #15 prospect in 2013 draft
  Crawford has athletic bloodlines: his father Larry played nine years in the Canadian Football League, and Dodgers outfielder Carl Crawford is a relative. He has become a much more fluid defender over the last two years, making him the rare prep prospect with a real chance to play shortstop in the major leagues. His long arms and game awareness give him good range, especially to his left and on balls in front of him. He needs to improve on balls to his right, but his above-average arm should allow him to make plays from the hole, and he has sure hands and good actions. He projects as a solid-average or slightly better defensive shortstop and an average hitter with fringy power. Crawford has good hand-eye coordination, which allows him to spray line drives to all fields, but he has a high set-up and a bit of a loop in his swing. He can turn on balls on occasion, but he needs to get stronger and smooth out his swing in order to get on top of good fastballs. Crawford is a solid-average runner who takes good turns and has baserunning savvy. He is committed to Southern California.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked International League #10 prospect in 2017
  Crawford started the season so poorly, hitting .194 with a .565 OPS through 56 games, that the Phillies game him a 10-day mental break. The plan worked. From June 20 onward he hit .280/.381/.522 in the IL with 13 of his 15 home runs. He made his big league debut on Sept. 5. Managers and scouts alike noticed poor defense and body language from Crawford during the first half, which seemed to stem from his prolonged batting slump. An above-average defender at shortstop with an above-average arm, he committed 12 errors through his first 66 games but just five through his last 61, which included time at second and third base in August. Crawford is an above-average hitter and runner, and though his power is just fringe-average, his plate discipline is a separator, as indicated by a league-leading 79 walks. He draws nearly as many walks as strikeouts and has a career .367 on-base percentage in the minors.
• 
  Ranked Eastern League #6 prospect in 2016
  Crawford didn't spend much time in his return engagement with Reading, but he continued to show the tools that helped make him the No. 3 prospect in baseball at midseason. Crawford projects to be a major league shortstop because he's a rangy, athletic defender with enough arm to stick at the position. He continued to show a disciplined hitting approach, with more walks than strikeouts at Double-A. However, he hit just .265 at Reading and then .244 after a promotion to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, and scouts noticed mechanical adjustments he needs to make. In particular, Crawford has a tendency to open his hips early, step in the bucket and pull off the ball. If he can make the necessary fixes, he can be an above-average hitter with near-average power and average speed.
• 
  Ranked International League #4 prospect in 2016
  Crawford began the year at Double-A Reading before being promoted to Lehigh Valley in mid-May. He was the youngest player in the IL when the Phillies promoted him to Lehigh Valley in mid-May. He went through some growing pains against older competition. While IL pitchers found ways to get Crawford out, he did not lose his disciplined approach at the plate. He has a compact lefthanded swing that enables him to make consistent contact. Power is not a big part of his game, but he projects to have average pop as he continues to physically mature. He is an average runner. Crawford is a smooth defender, capable of making all the plays at shortstop. He has above-average arm strength and earns praise for his instincts.
• 
  Ranked Eastern League #2 prospect in 2015
  Still just 20 years old, Crawford has two consecutive Futures Game appearances to his credit and he walked more than he struck out in his first test at Double-A this season at Reading. Simply put, he's special. A gifted fielder with range, Crawford has a strong arm and well above-average instincts, especially for someone his age. At the plate, he shows above-average contact skills, especially when he keeps his hands inside the ball, and he projects to be a plus hitter at the highest level. Evaluators are split on his power potential, with some projecting him to 10-12 home runs and others to 15-18 as he adds strength to his youthful frame. Running is about the only thing at which Crawford does not excel, and even without plus speed he has the smarts to swipe bags every now and again. He's a future first-division shortstop with all-star potential.
• 
  Ranked Florida State League #2 prospect in 2014
  Just a year-plus after being drafted 16th overall, Crawford has put himself on the fast track to succeed veteran Jimmy Rollins in Philadelphia. He earned a midseason promotion after starting in the South Atlantic League all-star game and stood out even in a crowded FSL shortstop crew. With his relative inexperience, Crawford is no finished product. He has some hitting mechanics to smooth out, with a pull-oriented setup that more experienced pitchers can exploit. And defensively, Crawford rushes at times and tries to make too many plays, leading to 17 errors in 62 games. But he has average to plus tools across the board, particularly with line-drive pop and an easy plus arm, with uncommon instincts that allow those tools to play. "He's making errors because he's inconsistent, but he's getting a lot better and will be very good as he grows," Clearwater manager Nelson Prada said. "I think his bat will be his best tool--both power and average. The way he approaches his job at the plate is really impressive for a 19-year-old."
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  Ranked South Atlantic League #2 prospect in 2014
  At the low Class A level, one can find any number of outstanding defensive shortstops with significant questions about their bats. Likewise, shortstops who have potent bats but lack the tools to stay at the position also abound. Crawford combines the best of both worlds and a player whom both scouts and managers can get excited, especially given that he's just 19. Crawford showed an advanced eye at the plate and some power, albeit with lefthanded a swing that got too big as he became pull-happy. He was hitting nearly .350 before a deep slump in his final month at Lakewood. "The last four weeks, he wasn't hitting like he had earlier, but he was playing some of the best shortstop I've seen," Lakewood manager Greg Legg said. "He made every play and he didn't take his at-bats into the field."
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  Ranked Florida Complex League #6 prospect in 2013
  The Phillies drafted Crawford with the No. 16 overall pick this year, then signed him for $2,229,300. He made a smooth transition to pro ball, leading the GCL in both batting (.345) and on-base percentage (.443) while ranking fifth in slugging (.465). He spent the last two weeks of the season with low Class A Lakewood. Crawford has keen plate discipline and good hand-eye coordination. He sets up with his hands high, and with long arms he has a bit of a loop in his swing, but he sprays line drives across the field and works the count to get on base. He?s mostly a doubles threat right now, but once he gets stronger he has the frame to grow into at least fringe-average power. Crawford is a solid-average runner with good baserunning savvy for his age. He?s an athletic player with good body control who has the ability to be a solid defensive shortstop. He shows good range, especially to his left and charging the ball, along with an above-average arm.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #16 prospect in 2018
• Ranked Baseball America's #12 prospect in 2017
• Ranked Baseball America's #6 prospect in 2016
• Ranked Baseball America's #14 prospect in 2015
• Ranked Baseball America's #78 prospect in 2014

• December, 2017 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Crawford is the top prospect in the organization for the fourth straight season, but it hasn't been a smooth ride up the ladder. The No. 13 overall pick in 2013 made fast progress initially, reaching Double-A as a 20-year-old in 2015. Yet when Crawford spent most of 2016 in Triple-A Lehigh Valley, he struggled, and when he returned to the IronPigs in 2017 his poor performance continued. By June 10, his slash line had dropped to .194/.313/.252. He took the next nine days off to rest a nagging groin strain and take a mental break, and when he returned he looked like a different player. Crawford finished the season on a tear, batting .280/.381/.522 with 13 home runs in his final 71 games. He made his big league debut as a September callup. Scouting Report: Even when he struggles, Crawford stands out for his plate discipline. He's a patient, selective hitter who recognizes offspeed pitches, piles up walks and is a an on-base threat. At times, his strike-zone judgment was the only offensive attribute working for him. He got into a bad habit of pulling off the ball, causing his hips to fly open. That created a longer swing path, left him vulnerable to pitches on the outer third and cut into his ability to drive the ball. Crawford adjusted in the second half by setting up his hands closer to his body and keeping his lower half into his swing better. The changes improved his swing efficiency and helped him stay through the ball better. Crawford's offensive game is still centered around hitting line drives, but he showed the potential for 15-plus home runs. Crawford struggled on defense early in the season, but by the end of the year he again looked like a true shortstop with good athleticism and range, quick hands, a smooth transfer and an accurate, above-average arm. He shifted to third base in August to get accustomed to the position with Freddy Galvis at shortstop in Philadelphia. The Future: Crawford's extended struggles in Triple-A can't simply be dismissed, but his turnaround showed he still has the talent to be a centerpiece player. He should soon supplant Galvis as the Phillies' everyday shortstop and develop into an above-average player.
• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: For the third straight season, Crawford ranks as the Phillies' top prospect. It's a ranking that comes after a season in which he didn't take the next big leap forward that was expected of him coming into the year, but he's still one of the game's elite shortstop prospects. His athleticism runs in the family--he's a cousin of Carl Crawford and his father played football at Iowa State and the Canadian Football League--but it's the combination of athleticism and polished baseball skills for his age that have made Crawford stand out since his high school days. The Phillies selected him with the No. 16 overall pick in the 2013 draft, and he signed for $2,299,300. Crawford moved through the system quickly, reaching Double-A Reading as a 20-year-old in 2015 in a season that ended when he tore a ligament in his thumb in the Arizona Fall League. He opened 2016 by returning to Reading, where he spent six weeks before playing the rest of the season at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He missed one week in August with an injured oblique. Crawford hit .250/.349/.339 in 123 games between the two stops. Scouting Report: Crawford's best offensive asset is his plate discipline. He has nearly as many walks as strikeouts in his career and shows a keen eye at the plate by recognizing offspeed pitches and rarely expanding the strike zone. Even as he went through growing pains upon reaching Triple-A, his strike-zone judgment remained intact. Crawford is a high-contact hitter with an efficient, compact swing from the left side, which combined with his plate discipline gives him a chance to be a high on-base threat at the top of a lineup. When he struggled, he had a habit of stepping in the bucket and leaking open early with his hips, creating a longer path to the ball. His ability to keep his hands back and control the bat head still allowed him to make contact, however. When his swing is in sync, Crawford stays inside the ball well, with a chance to be an above-average hitter. Getting stronger will be critical for him because his power is mostly to the gaps, with the occasional home run to the pull side. His power hasn't developed as quickly as some expected, but between his bat speed and room to fill out his frame, he could develop average pop. In the field, Crawford shows plus defense, a mixture of athleticism, actions and instincts. With average speed, he isn't a burner, but he has a quick first step and reads the ball well off the bat, providing him with plenty of range. He's a fluid defender who can make plays to either side with his plus arm, which plays up because of his fast hands and quick transfer. The Future: Crawford isn't on the Phillies' 40-man roster yet, though he hasn't shown enough yet to merit a spot in the Opening Day lineup ahead of incumbent Freddy Galvis. Instead, he should return to Triple-A, with an opportunity to force his way to the major leagues by the all-star break. If everything clicks, the Phillies should have a franchise cornerstone at shortstop.