The Philadelphia Phillies' most confusing player is someone you wouldn't initially expect.
The Philadelphia Phillies elected to head into the 2026 MLB campaign with rookie Justin Crawford as their starting center fielder.
It was a bold move for a win-now team like the Phillies, one that typically trades away prospects rather than start them right out of the gate.
The early returns have been mixed, to say the least.
Crawford is slashing .270/.316/.361 with two home runs and 31 RBI over 371 plate appearances. He has also stolen 16 bases in 19 attempts.
He's making contact, as evidenced by his 18.3 percent strikeout rate. That's impressive for a rookie. The problem? He owns a 55.3 percent ground ball rate, and his line drive rate is at 16.9 percent. His soft contact rate is very high at 21.7 percent, and his hard contact rate comes in at 27.2 percent.
What's more, he owns a .326 BABIP, which is typical for a speedy player. But his xBA is just .258, indicating that he has been getting a bit lucky.
Crawford owns an .890 OPS thus far in August, which is definitely encouraging after managing a .589 OPS while logging just one extra-base hit the month prior. And he has struck out only four times this month.
Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Justin Crawford. Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images.But can the Phillies really trust him as their starting center fielder for next season?
Here's what makes it so complicated: Crawford has the tools to be very good. He was a .322/.385/.446 hitter in the minor leagues, and he also played impressive outfield defense in Philadelphia's farm system.
In the majors, though, Crawford's lack of pop has been a big problem, and he hasn't been quite as proficient as expected defensively. In fact, he has been a slight liability with his glove, which is wild considering his athleticism.
Perhaps the 22-year-old would be best-suited as a fourth outfielder, one who could play specifically against right-handed pitching.
It's easy to see the skills and the potential, but the Phillies can only bank on "potential" for so long. That's especially considering he is a .238/.280/.314 hitter away from Citizens Bank Park.
Crawford doesn't have explosive trade value, so maybe keeping him as a bench player and acquiring a better outfielder would be the play this winter.
It seems doubtful that Philadelphia will continue trying to ride it out with Crawford getting starter reps next season, but who knows? Maybe the Phillies will continue trusting the guy who has oddly become their most enigmatic player.
