Phillies Promote Top Prospect J.P. Crawford

Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

J.P. Crawford is movin’ on up. The 19 year-old shortstop prospect is being promoted to high-A Clearwater on Wednesday, after spending his first 60 games in single-A Lakewood.

Ranked as #78 on Baseball America’s preseason prospect list, Crawford has hit .295/.398/.405 with 3 HR, 14 SB, and 16 2B in those 60 games. He is being given Tuesday to participate in the South Atlantic League All-Star game before heading to Clearwater.

The timing of the promotion is interesting, as Crawford has struggled heavily in June, hitting only .189/.328/.226 with only 2 XBH in 64 PA. This is after earning Phillies’ Player of the Month honors in May, hitting .367/.447/.522 during that stretch.

In a corresponding move, fellow shortstop prospect Roman Quinn will transition to centerfield, a position that Jim Salisbury reports he has been working from in recent practices. Quinn is also in Clearwater, and the two look to provide a dynamic top of the lineup presence there for the remainder of the season.

Given struggles this season by Maikel Franco and Jesse Biddle, J.P. Crawford has been a highlight to fans, desperate for good news in a rough season for the Phillies on most levels.

J.P. Crawford was the Phillies’ first selection in the 2013 MLB draft, earning the Gulf Coast League hitting title in his short time there. His MLB ETA is likely to be at sometime in early 2016.