That Balls Outta Here
FanSided

Three Phillies prospects ranked among International League’s best

By John Town

PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 18: J.P. Crawford #2 of the Philadelphia Phillies hive fives his teammates in the dugout after throwing out Yasiel Puig #66 of the Los Angeles Dodgers (NOT PICTURED) in the top of the eighth inning at Citizens Bank Park on September 18, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Dodgers 4-3. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 18: J.P. Crawford #2 of the Philadelphia Phillies hive fives his teammates in the dugout after throwing out Yasiel Puig #66 of the Los Angeles Dodgers (NOT PICTURED) in the top of the eighth inning at Citizens Bank Park on September 18, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Dodgers 4-3. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – SEPTEMBER 14: J.P. Crawford #2 of the Philadelphia Phillies fields a ground ball in the ninth inning against the Miami Marlins at Citizens Bank Park on September 14, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies won 10-0. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images) /

SS J.P. Crawford

Had this list been released at midseason, there is no way Crawford would’ve been on it. He nearly fell entirely out of the Top 100, with one of BA’s editors saying they don’t see him as an impact player anymore.

However, Crawford completely turned his season around after a break mid-June. He hit so well he was able to make his major-league debut this month as well as land at No. 10 in this list.

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This was Collazo’s profile on Crawford:

"Crawford started the season so poorly, hitting .194 with a .565 OPS through 56 games, that the Phillies game him a 10-day mental break. The plan worked. From June 20 onward he hit .280/.381/.522 in the IL with 13 of his 15 home runs. He made his big league debut on Sept. 5. Managers and scouts alike noticed poor defense and body language from Crawford during the first half, which seemed to stem from his prolonged batting slump. An above-average defender at shortstop with an above-average arm, he committed 12 errors through his first 66 games but just five through his last 61, which included time at second and third base in August. Crawford is an above-average hitter and runner, and though his power is just fringe-average, his plate discipline is a separator, as indicated by a league-leading 79 walks. He draws nearly as many walks as strikeouts and has a career .367 on-base percentage in the minors."

A reader asked Collazo what he thought about the fact Crawford was being moved all around in August just before his call-up:

"Alex (Mass): What do you make of JP Crawford being moved all over the diamond? Heading to be a platoon? Still long term answer at SS?, or is Franco doomed at 3b? Carlos Collazo: I wouldn’t make too much of it, as far as Crawford’s future long term. Crawford played the first 111 games at shortstop this year with Lehigh Valley before playing some third, second and short during late August before his promotion. He’s got the tools to be a really good defender at short with an above-average arm, and he picked it much better during the second half this year as well. Crawford is definitely the future shortstop. Not sure about Franco, but a .684 OPS isn’t too exciting."

Next: Phillies could be plenty of fun to watch next year

To build upon what Collazo said, the fact that Crawford is being moved all around is just so he can get as many at-bats before the season ends. That way, the team can get as good of a picture as possible of what they have in Crawford. Regardless, the fact

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