Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Kody Clemens tosses the ball to the pitcher covering first base for the out on Arizona Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith during the fourth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, June 13, 2023, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Phillies’ 21-year-old star prospect gets major promotion
Philadelphia Phillies top prospect Justin Crawford is one step closer to the majors following a promotion to Triple-A.
The Philadelphia Phillies are once again seeking a return to October in 2025. President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski and the Phillies’ brass have assembled a deep and talented roster, but there’s still one major hole in their lineup. That hole resides in center field, where the team has lacked an impact player since the days of Shane Victorino. However, the hope is that former first-rounder Justin Crawford will be the long-term answer. Crawford’s journey to the majors took another step forward Sunday when the team announced he will start in Triple-A, according to MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki.
“I think there’s going to be a learning curve for him in Triple-A, but I think he’ll go up there and play well,” Phillies player development director Luke Murton said to Zolecki. “But there’s an opportunity to learn and get better, and at the end of the day, we think to help the Philadelphia Phillies in the future, the next best step for him is Triple-A.”
Although Crawford will begin 2025 in Lehigh Valley, don’t be surprised if he finishes it at Citizens Bank Park. Following an absolutely electric display in major league camp this spring training, it appears as if he’s almost ready for the major league level. He hit .364 with two stolen bases and two walks in eight Grapefruit League games this spring. Will Dombrowski, manager Rob Thomson and the rest of the organization’s decision makers elect to bring Crawford up to Philadelphia sooner rather than later?
