The Phillies bolstered their rather uninspiring farm system on Sunday night, drafting high-upside center fielder Justin Crawford in the first round.
Crawford comes out of Bishop Gorman High School in Nevada, joining Bryce Harper and Bryson Stott as key Nevada-raised building blocks for the Phils. He’s the son of former Tampa Bay Rays superstar Carl Crawford, and is also related to another former Phillies first rounder, J.P. Crawford.
Justin Crawford is a typical toolsy Phillies prospect, possessing high-end speed and defense, and hopefully maturing into a contract-oriented hitter. At only 18-years-old, he has plenty of time to develop into a productive big leaguer, and can hopefully be a part of the next great Phillies team.
RELATED: Who Could The Phillies Trade For?
The Phils got tremendous value with the 17th overall pick last night, grabbing a youngster with tremendous upside. After taking two electric right-handed pitchers in the past two drafts, the Phillies are now focusing more on the offensive side of the ball.
Standing 6’3” and weighing in at only 175 pounds, Justin Crawford will still need to fill out his frame if he wants to make the most of his hitting ability. However, with a thin farm system and an aging core, it’s nice to see the Phillies add a kid with such a high ceiling.