Phillies 2022 First Round Draft Pick: Justin Crawford
Pick: 17th overall
School: Bishop Gorman High School (NV)
Position: Outfield
Whenever there is a son of a former MLB All-Star available, it usually is the right pick to go with the kid. That being said, Justin Crawford has already begun to make a name for himself across baseball after being drafted just two years ago.
In his short time in the minors, the Arizona native has hit over .300 with an .800+ OPS while playing an elite center field and being one of the biggest nuisances on the base paths. In only 161 games between Single-A and High-A, Crawford has stolen 76 bases, more than last season's MLB leader Ronald Acuna Jr. His floor is higher than most as his defense and speed give him an edge, much like that of Johan Rojas.
Currently ranked as the No. 55 prospect by MLB Pipeline, the left-handed hitter looks to continue his rise up the ranks toward the top of the list as he has started to generate more power behind his swings, consistently finding gaps for extra bases and hitting the ball over the wall at a much higher clip than before.
This was the second straight year that Crawford participated in the MLB Futures Game, making him a top prospect to watch in baseball. Another player with little history to go off but a great pedigree behind him.
Grade: B