Philadelphia Phillies: Outfielder Justin Crawford selected 17th overall

The 2022 MLB draft took place tonight, and the Philadelphia Phillies added a special young talent to their farm system. With the 17th overall pick, Dave Dombrowski and the club selected outfielder Justin Crawford out of Bishop Gorman high school. Crawford is the son of four-time All-Star Carl Crawford.

When you look at the skill set of the young 18-year-old, it’s his speed that immediately pops out. MLB.com gave him a run grade of 70, which is comparable to Boston Red Sox starting outfielder Jarren Duran (seven stolen bases in 27 games this season). That comparison would certainly be fine; however, there are some who believe that Crawford could even be deserving of an 80 grade (the highest as the scale runs 20-80). For a team desperate for an infusion of speed in the outfield, Justin Crawford seems the obvious choice.

Crawford is more than his speed, however, as he is an impressive athlete, which helps lend to his plus-defensive potential. Currently, Crawford grades out with a 55 arm and a 60 as a fielder. That type of defensive potential would be huge for the Phillies, who have had more than their fair share of outtakes in the outfield. With his athletic and defensive tools alone, Justin Crawford is an answer for many problems the Phillies face in the outfield.

After selecting Justin Crawford 17th overall, the Philadelphia Phillies are banking on athleticism and pedigree to solve their outfield issues.

Offensively, Crawford is a bit of a work in progress, but there is a path to improving his swing. It’s not a matter of making contact (though he could use some work against off-speed pitches) as he boasts a solid 55 hit-tool grade. Really the issue stems from a lack of power. One shouldn’t confuse Crawford with former Phillie and professional contact hitter Ben Revere, however.

Crawford does possess power; it’s just extremely raw at this point. It’s important to remember that Justin Crawford is only 18; he has plenty of time to fill out his frame. While that’s by no means a guarantee, there’s enough potential to make the selection worthwhile for the Philadelphia Phillies. According to some scouts, Crawford already added some mass as last fall progressed, a trend that is expected to continue.

While he may take some time to develop, the Phillies have one exciting prospect on their hands, and assuming he debuts with the team at the major league level, Philadelphia may have another starting outfielder to pair with Bryce Harper.