The Philadelphia Phillies are once again aiming for a return to October baseball in 2025. Under the guidance of president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski, the Phillies have built a deep and talented roster, but one significant gap remains in center field. The team has struggled to find an impact player at the position since Shane Victorino’s era. However, there is hope that former first-round pick Justin Crawford could be the long-term solution. On Sunday, the Phillies announced that Crawford will begin the season in Triple-A, according to MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki.
“I think there’s going to be a learning curve for him in Triple-A, but I think he’ll go up there and play well,” Phillies player development director Luke Murton told Zolecki. “There’s an opportunity to learn and get better, and ultimately, we believe the next best step for him to help the Philadelphia Phillies in the future is Triple-A.”
Although Crawford will start 2025 with Lehigh Valley, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him finish the year at Citizens Bank Park. After an electrifying performance in major league camp during spring training, he looks nearly ready for the big leagues. This spring, he batted .364 with two stolen bases and two walks in eight Grapefruit League games. The question now is whether Dombrowski, manager Rob Thomson, and the rest of the organization’s leadership will decide to bring Crawford to Philadelphia sooner rather than later.
Will Justin Crawford debut for Phillies this season?
Brandon Marsh currently holds the starting role in center field and serves as a reliable hitter near the bottom of the lineup. While his defense isn’t top-tier, it meets the Phillies’ needs. However, Justin Crawford could offer even more to the lineup. If he continues to impress in Triple-A after a strong showing during spring training, Dombrowski and Thomson might not hesitate to call him up once they believe he’s ready to contribute.
Murton highlighted how well the 21-year-old has adapted to life in camp.
“He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do,” Murton said. “The biggest thing with Justin is that he’s a very talented kid, and he’s a very tough kid. He’s a competitive kid. You put him in that environment [big-league camp] and we thought we knew how he’d react, and he did.”
Crawford’s competitiveness and talent are reminiscent of his father, former Tampa Bay Rays legend Carl Crawford. If he can follow in his dad’s footsteps, the Phillies could soon have an impact center fielder. Hopefully, that impact arrives at the major league level sooner rather than later.