Philadelphia Phillies rookie Justin Crawford could end up being a problem for the team.
The Philadelphia Phillies seem prepared to roll with Justin Crawford as their everyday center fielder in 2026, and given that he is the third-ranked prospect in the Phillies' system, why not?
Crawford lit it up in Triple-A last season, slashing .334/.411/.452 with seven home runs and 47 RBI over 506 plate appearances. He also stole 46 bases.
Will he produce those types of numbers on the big-league level? It remains to be seen, but he's a rookie, so growing pains are expected at the plate.
But what about in the field? Is there reason to be worried there?
Charlotte Varnes of The Athletic touched on the point that Crawford's defense could become an issue for Philadelphia in center and that he might ultimately have to shift positions at some point.
"Most criticisms of Crawford — whether about his imperfect defense or lack of power — tend to come with the caveat, 'He’s just 22,'" Varnes wrote. "Club officials see room for him to grow as a center fielder, in part because he is so young and has time for refinement. Still, some think he might be better in the outfield corners."
Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Justin Crawford. Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images.So what exactly is the issue for the speedy Crawford in the outfield?
"From my perspective, I noticed Crawford had occasional trouble with route-running and misreading balls during a game I covered late last season in Allentown, Pa.," Varnes added.
Varnes feels that Crawford's athleticism could make him "an asset" as a defender, but it's clear that he is still very raw. She added that he "doubled down" on defensive work this offseason, so we'll see if it manifests on the field in 2026.
The Phillies opted to go the cheaper route with their outfield this winter, signing Adolis Garcia to a one-year, $10 million contract and deciding to roll with Crawford. Brandon Marsh will be in left, and Otto Kemp stands to get some playing time, as well.
This has frustrated a Philadelphia fan base that was hoping to see more significant movement this offseason, but the Phillies being slapped with a $56 million luxury tax bill after 2025 made that difficult.
Hopefully, Crawford gets off to a fast start and doesn't make Philadelphia's front office regret its decision.
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