Andrew Painter won’t be the only former first-round pick to start 2026 with the Phillies. Justin Crawford, the dynamic outfield prospect, got the call and will start the year with Philadelphia, looking to stop the revolving door in center field for the two-time defending NL East champions.
A Look at Crawford
Justin Crawford checked all the boxes when he was an MLB Draft prospect four years ago: plus tools, Major League bloodlines, and a high floor and reasonably high ceiling.
The son of former Rays outfielder Carl Crawford, the Phillies prospect quickly became a must-watch prospect shortly after he was drafted in the first round in 2022. Crawford slashed .332/.392/.467 with 47 stolen bases in 87 games. He hit well across High-A and Double-A in 2022, then slashed .334/.411/.452 with 34 extra-base hits and 46 stolen bases with Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
With Crawford, there’s not a ton of natural power here. Lanky figure and lower bat speed. However, his bat is quick, and he doesn’t swing and miss much at all. As we noted back in January, Crawford posted an 18% Whiff% in Triple-A last season, one of the 20 lowest at the level last season.
All of that bodes well for his ability to hit fastballs at the big league level. However, what will be interesting to watch is how much he’ll expand outside of the zone — and how that could affect him negatively.
High-chase hitters can have success at the MLB level, particularly those who like to play pepper with the field and don’t try to do too much at the dish. But last season, he expanded at a rate of 34% last season with Lehigh Valley.
Defensively, Crawford fits as a center fielder, thanks to the plus speed that can impact the game not just in the field but also on the basepaths. He also spent some time in left field. Crawford started 29 games there with the IronPigs last season.
The Phillies officially selected Justin Crawford before the start of the 2026 campaign.
Analysis
Over the past few years, the Phillies have tried numerous players to fill the center field role in Philadelphia. Brandon Marsh, who’s still with the team but has shifted to a corner outfield role, Johan Rojas, and now-San Francisco Giant Harrison Bader have been among said options.
Crawford has the potential to be more of a permanent fixture in center field. One, he doesn’t have those wild splits that someone like Marsh has had in his MLB career; as a matter of fact, Crawford batted .376 against left-handers last season, albeit in a smaller sample size compared to right-handed pitchers.
Two, he’s a controllable asset who would be under control for the next six seasons, assuming Crawford doesn’t get sent down to the Minors in that time.
And three, the tools are fantastic. No, don’t expect a lot of power. Ten to fifteen home runs would likely be a high-water mark for Crawford, who had a career-high nine two years ago. But his speed can make him a high-floor, valuable player for years.
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