With yesterday’s tough 9-8 home loss to the Boston Red Sox, the Philadelphia Phillies (58-44) slipped a half-game behind the NL East-leading New York Mets. As the Phillies prepare for the stretch run of the season, the team according to ESPN BET, currently has the fourth-best odds to win the World Series. It would be the club’s first WS title since 2008, and their third overall after losing in 2022 to the Houston Astros.

As the trade deadline approaches the consensus is the club could use help in the bullpen, specifically a closer and another late-inning reliever. But another area they could use some help is in the leadoff spot where they’re currently using Bryson Stott and Kyle Schwarber who ranks fifth in MLB with (35) homers. Neither possesses the speed or raw talent that No.3 prospect Justin Crawford does, and it might be in the Phillies best interest to move the speedster up sooner than later.

Crawford Is Club’s Not So Distant Future Leadoff Hitter

It’s no secret that the Phillies have some talented players in the farm system. They include pitcher Andrew Painter the club’s top prospect, and its second ranked prospect in shortstop Aidan Miller. And, while those two players are thought to be future cornerstone pieces, neither of them moves the meter like the aforementioned Crawford.

The 2022 first-round pick (17th overall) is tearing it up in Triple-A and has been since he arrived in the minors. That includes his recent performance in the MLB Pipelines Prospect Showcase where he reached based on all four of his plate appearances— with two walks and two singles. Each time displaying patience at the plate and fighting off pitches. Crawford also put his elite speed on full display with two stolen bases.

He helped lead the Lehigh Valley Ironpigs to a 3-2 win over Norfolk. In the aftermath of the win and his standout performance, Crawford told reporters this.

“I take that role on fully. It’s important, especially being a leadoff hitter, to see pitches and have quality at-bats. I take a lot of pride in that. To go up there, try to see pitches, try to see spin, pick up any tendencies I can. I did a decent job with that today.”

Crawford Doing Some Special Things: Has Dombrowski’s Attention

The four-base performance by Crawford pushed his average up to .329 in 77 games this season. The mark is the third-best in the International League, and second-best by a player age 21 or younger in Triple-A. Crawford’s .413 on-base percentage ranks seventh in the league as well.

In his minor league career, the son of former four-time All-Star and four-time AL stolen base leader Carl Crawford is a chip-off-the-old-block himself having stolen (31 bases in 40 attempts) this season.

Crawford’s unique display of plate of plate discipline, bat-to-ball skills and elite speed have been his calling card since he arrived in the minors, and that was no different earlier this week. It’s caught the attention of Phillies president of baseball operations, Dave Dombrowski who spoke highly of his star pupil.

“He is a player that is very good, very talented,” Dombrowski said. “Will more development time hurt him? No. … But if we had to bring him up, or we decide to bring him up, it’s not like he can’t contribute by any means. But it really comes down to, if he’s going to come here, we need him to be able to play the majority of the time.”