Phillies' Superstar Prospect Tops Speed Rankings

The Philadelphia Phillies drafted a player with Major League pedigree when they selected Justin Crawford out of high school with the 17th overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft.

His father, Carl Crawford, spent 14 years in the MLB with three different teams, posting a career slash line of .290/.330/.435 with 136 home runs, 766 RBI and 480 stolen bases.

He was also a four-time All-Star and a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger winner.

What the outfielder was most known for, however, was his speed on the basepaths.

The elder Crawford was the stolen base leader in the American League four times and stole 50-plus bases five times, including one year where he swiped 60 bags.

It seems like the apple didn't fall too far from the tree as the Phillies' star prospect is getting the same praise for his speed.

Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline has ranked the younger Crawford as the fastest runner in minor league baseball.

"Justin recorded 60-yard dash times under 6.2 seconds on the high school showcase circuit and used his quickness to steal 47 bases in 55 attempts and to turn enough grounders into singles to rank seventh in the Minors in batting (.332) during his first full pro season," Callis writes.

Philadelphia seems to have gotten a real weapon on the basepaths in their farm system.

Crawford was promoted to the High Single-A level last year and was still able to showcase his speed facing tougher competition.

In 18 games he stole seven bases, a good sign that he can continue this production as he moves up through the pipeline.

The 20-year-old has a bright future ahead of him as he further develops.

For comparison, Corbin Carroll was previously rated as the fastest runner just like Crawford and is coming off a season where he became the first rookie to ever have 25 home runs and 50 steals as he finished with 54.

The Phillies' star prospect still has a few more years ahead of him in the farm system.

Crawford is listed as the 77th overall prospect in the minors according to MLB Pipeline's updated rankings.

But as he continues to develop, he clearly has a tool that will be hard to keep him off a Major League roster.