Trusted Phillies insider sets expectations high for pair of top rookies

The Philadelphia Phillies will have some of their top prospects featured in the club's plans in 2026. The experienced roster hasn't had contributions from some of its best young players in quite some time. Andrew Painter and Justin Crawford's already high expectations have increased further as the regular season nears.

The pair of prospects has excelled in the minors and has had some success in Grapefruit League games this spring. They could be the missing piece to a Phillies club looking to get over the hump and win a World Series. Painter and Crawford each received glowing praise from MLB insider and The Athletic contributor Jayson Stark.

Jayson Stark expresses excitement amid his sky-high expectations for the Phillies' top rookies

Speaking with Ricky Bottallico and Bill Colarulo on 97.5 The Fanatic's Unfiltered, Stark noted how highly he is anticipating how Crawford and Painter will do in their first MLB seasons.

"I can't wait to find out [what Painter's ceiling is this year.] He was once the number one pitching prospect in the whole sport before his Tommy John surgery. When I talked to people about him back then, they were dropping names like Gerrit Cole, Paul Skenes, Stephen Strasburg; that's how special it was."

Painter underwent Tommy John surgery before the start of the 2023 season and didn't pitch until the 2024 Arizona Fall League. He had an inconsistent year in 2025, but made an adjustment involving his fastball that will help him in his first MLB season.

Stark continued to express his enthusiasm about the Phillies top pitching prospect.

"I was at the game [Painter pitched] on Sunday [March 1], and I wouldn't say I saw that. That Andrew Painter that I just described from 2022 had insane fastball life, and I don't think that would describe him in this start, but I did go back and rewatch it. I was curious. He did blow a fastball right past Trent Grisham from the [New York] Yankees. He blew up the bat with the fastball. He was very efficient.

So, I don't know where this is leading, but you asked about upside. If he gets it together, Ricky, he's so much more than just another five starter because he's a guy with superstar upside," Stark finished.

Following his first Grapefruit League game this year, Painter had an up-and-down second outing on March 7 versus the Toronto Blue Jays. He pitched in three innings and allowed one hit and one walk. The Pompano Beach, Florida, native experienced his share of struggles in his latest game against the Baltimore Orioles on March 13. He allowed five hits, three earned runs, and one home run with four strikeouts in two and 2/3 innings. The right-hander is expected to be inconsistent in his first year. He should be good enough to remain in the Phillies rotation throughout the season and be a solid fifth starter for them.

Stark added to his praise by assessing what Crawford's upside with the Phillies could be this year:

"I don't feel like there's been enough talk about the impact that Justin Crawford has a chance to make. Go back and take a look at what he did in Triple-A [with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs] last year. He [had a] .334 [batting average], on base [percentage of] over .400, slugging percentage [of] over .500, stole 46 bases."

Crawford got off to a good start this spring with two hits in the Phillies' first Grapefruit League game on Feb. 21, including one double. He went 5-for-15 with three doubles and slashed a .333/.375/.533 line and a .908 OPS in five games during February.

Stark mentioned the upside he believes Crawford will provide to the Phillies in his rookie season:

"How many active major league players do you think have ever had that year? .334 [batting average], [over].400 on base [percentage], [a] slugging percentage [of] almost .500, [and] 46 stolen bases. [Only one player had a season like that]. Ronald Acuña Jr. I know Triple-A and the big leagues are different and [Crawford's] not going to do that, but again, we're talking enormous upside and potential to change games.

You know who the fastest player in the minor leagues was last year? Justin Crawford. So, he's going to hit ninth, and I have not seen anything this spring, at least when I've been at Phillies camp, that says Justin Crawford isn't going to be a really, really good player. Here's my prediction: best number nine hitter in Phillies history."

Crawford has struggled in March, posting an 0-for-10 stretch over four consecutive games. He has rebounded a bit, having three hits and scoring four runs over two contests on March 12 and March 14. He has a .190/.227/.190 line after seven games this month. The 17th overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft could develop in a key role for the club this season as the ninth batter in their lineup. He has upside on defense, and the Phillies hope he can be their center fielder for the next several seasons.

The upside for Painter and Crawford continues to grow as the regular season gets closer to beginning. While both will experience their shares of struggles adapting to the majors, there is reason for the Phillies fanbase to anticipate their debuts with excitement.