Justin Crawford (baseball) facts for kids

Justin Carl Crawford (born January 13, 2004) is an American professional baseball outfielder in the Philadelphia Phillies organization.

Amateur career

Crawford spent his freshman year of high school at Rolling Hills Preparatory School in Torrance, California before transferring to Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Nevada, as a sophomore. As a junior in 2021, he batted .525. In 2022, as a senior, he batted .503 with five home runs, 52 RBIs, and twenty stolen bases. The Las Vegas Sun named him their Male Athlete of the Year. He ended the season as a top prospect for the upcoming draft. Crawford committed to play college baseball at the University of Arizona, but switched his commitment to Louisiana State University.

Professional career

The Philadelphia Phillies selected Crawford in the first round with the 17th overall selection of the 2022 Major League Baseball draft. He signed with the team for $3.89 million.

To open the 2023 season, Crawford was assigned to the Clearwater Threshers. He was selected to represent the Phillies at the 2023 All-Star Futures Game. In mid-August, he was promoted to the Jersey Shore BlueClaws. Over 87 games with the two teams, he batted .332 with three home runs, 64 RBIs, and 47 stolen bases. He was chosen for the Florida State League Most Valuable Player Award and Top MLB Prospect Award for his performance with Clearwater.

Personal life

Crawford's father, Carl Crawford, played 14 seasons of Major League Baseball. His second cousin, J. P. Crawford, also a Phillies first-round pick, currently plays for the Seattle Mariners.