Watch SSZ’s profile of Phillies first round pick JP Crawford
The Philadelphia Phillies have one of the best shortstops in baseball in former NL MVP Jimmy Rollins. But major league clubs always need to look to the future and with the 35 year old Rollins in his 14th big league season, the future of the Phillies at short is ready to work his way up the chain.
JP Crawford was the Phillies first round pick (#16 overall) in the 2013 MLB draft. He comes from Lakewood High School in California to the Lakewood Blue Claws one year later. Crawford is off to a hot start in low-A baseball, hitting over .330 in mid-May. Baseball America ranks him as the third best prospect in the Phillies system.
Crawford has strong baseball influences including his cousin, LA Dodgers outfielder Carl Crawford and Minnesota Twins outfielder Aaron Hicks who has been a mentor to the shortstop with great range and great plate discipline. The Phillies have shown great confidence in the 19-year old early in his professional baseball career, signing him to a bonus just under $2.3 million dollars and promoting him two spots form the Gulf Coast League to Lakewood.