Justin Crawford (baseball) facts for kids

Justin Carl Crawford (born January 13, 2004) is an American professional baseball player. He plays as an outfielder for the Philadelphia Phillies organization.

Early Baseball Years

Justin Crawford started his high school baseball journey in California. He later moved to Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas. There, he became a star player.

High School Highlights

As a junior, Justin was an amazing hitter. He batted .525, which means he got a hit more than half the times he tried. In his senior year (2022), he continued to shine. He hit .503, showing he was still a top hitter. He also hit five home runs and helped his team score 52 runs. Plus, he stole 20 bases, showing his speed. The Las Vegas Sun newspaper even named him their Male Athlete of the Year.

College Plans

Justin was a highly wanted player by many colleges. He first planned to play college baseball at the University of Arizona. However, he later changed his mind. He decided to commit to Louisiana State University instead.

Becoming a Professional Player

Justin Crawford was a top young baseball talent. This made him a highly desired player in the 2022 Major League Baseball draft.

Drafted by the Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies chose Justin in the first round of the draft. He was the 17th player picked overall. On July 25, 2022, he officially signed with the Phillies. He received $3.89 million to start his professional career.

Starting in the Minor Leagues

Justin began playing in the minor leagues in August 2022. He first played 11 games with the Florida Complex League Phillies. Soon after, he moved up to the Single-A Clearwater Threshers. He played 5 more games there. In his first professional season, he showed his speed. He stole 10 bases and hit .241.

Moving Up the Ranks

In 2023, Justin started the season back with the Clearwater Threshers. His great play earned him a spot in the 2023 All-Star Futures Game. This game features the best young players in baseball. In August, he was promoted again. He joined the Jersey Shore BlueClaws. That year, he played 87 games across both teams. He batted an impressive .332. He also hit three home runs and stole 47 bases. For his excellent performance with Clearwater, he won two awards. He was named the Florida State League Most Valuable Player Award and the Top MLB Prospect Award.

Justin returned to the BlueClaws to start the 2024 season. In July, he was promoted to the Double-A Reading Fightin Phils. He was also chosen to play in the All-Star Futures Game again. During that game, he got a hit and made an amazing diving catch. In 110 games across both teams, he hit .313. He also hit nine home runs and stole 42 bases. For the 2025 season, Justin was assigned to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.

Playing for His Country

Justin Crawford has also played baseball for the United States national baseball team.

International Competition

He played in the 2024 WBSC Premier12 tournament. This is a big international baseball competition. Justin started all nine games in center field for the U.S. team. He batted .250 and hit one home run. The U.S. team earned the bronze medal in the tournament. Justin said that playing for his country was a dream come true for him.

Family Connections

Baseball runs in Justin Crawford's family.

His father, Carl Crawford, was also a professional baseball player. Carl played for 14 seasons in Major League Baseball. Justin's second cousin, J. P. Crawford, is also a professional baseball player. J.P. was also a first-round draft pick by the Phillies. He currently plays for the Seattle Mariners.