Grapefruit League games have begun for the Philadelphia Phillies. The franchise will have many players to keep an eye on among their roster and non-roster invitees to spring training in Clearwater, Florida. One of the players who is garnering expectations and excitement is Justin Crawford.
Crawford, the Phillies' 17th overall selection in the 2022 MLB Draft, is looking to make the leap and earn his major league debut on Opening Day. He's off to a good start of securing a roster spot based on his offensive performance in the Phillies’ first spring training game versus the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday.
Justin Crawford impresses right away in Phillies' first spring training game
Crawford, who led off for the Phillies, went 2-for-3 in the afternoon affair at TD Ballpark in Dunedin. He picked up the Phillies’ first hit of spring training when he connected against Blue Jays left-handed starter Eric Lauer in the top of the first with a booming 390-foot double off the center field wall that left the bat at 104 mph.
Wasting no time! Our first hit of the spring comes courtesy of Justin Crawford pic.twitter.com/EHLKCRl5kd
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) February 21, 2026
Philadelphia’s top outfield prospect struck out on a pitch timer violation in his second at-bat. In his third at-bat, Crawford singled on a line drive to Blue Jays shortstop Josh Kasevich in the fifth inning.
Crawford has his doubters, with some prospect evaluators projecting that he won’t be able to overcome the high ground ball rates he has posted throughout his minor league career. So it’s nice to see the favorite to earn the starting center field job on Opening Day get off to a hot start at the onset of Grapefruit League games in spring training.
The 22-year-old excelled throughout last season in the Triple-A with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. Crawford totaled seven home runs, 47 RBIs, and slashed .334/.411/.452 with a .863 OPS in 112 games. He also finished with 23 doubles and 46 stolen bases, further exemplifying his speed on the basepaths.
That is an asset of his game that the Phillies are encouraging him to take advantage of in spring training, and hopefully, if he makes the Opening Day roster. He’s continuing to work on bunting as well (subscription required), in another way to take advantage of his speed to reach base.
Crawford is going to be one of the exciting new additions to the Phillies roster in 2026. He has certainly gotten off to a great start with his performance in the club's first Grapefruit League game.