by | Jul 18, 2022 | FRONT STREET

Three Black players were selected in the first five picks of the 2022 MLB Draft. Kumar Rocker (Rangers) was selected No.3 overall. Termarr Johnson (Pirates) was pick No.4 and Elijah Green (Nationals) completed the Top 5 selections.

 

“What I Most Bring To The Table Is My Speed” | MLB Draft Prospect Justin Crawford Comes From Strong MLB Pedigree

“What I Most Bring To The Table Is My Speed” | MLB Draft Prospect Justin Crawford Comes From Strong MLB Pedigree

by | Jun 21, 2022 | THE THREE SPOT

Bishop Gorman High School baseball star Justin Crawford was recently named the school’s Male Athlete of the Year. The No.13 ranked prospect on the Top 200 Draft Prospect List is a future first-round pick in the upcoming MLB Draft.

He’s also the son of former MLB player Carl Crawford. The elder Crawford was also known for his speed, which helped him become a 4X All-Star and 4X American League stolen base leader during his career.

 So basically, the proverbial apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Speed kills and the Crawfords have plenty of it. Being the son of Carl Crawford put a ton of added pressure on Justin, but this past year he seemed to step out of the shadow of dad and into his own.

 Crawford’s play this past season was outstanding. The elite outfielder displayed a great glove, speed and a potent bat for Gorman. Crawford batted .484, with five home runs, 40 RBIs and 17 stolen bases during the regular season. His .553 on-base percentage with 150 plate appearances was the best in the state of Nevada this past season.

 

 When asked about his great season, here’s what the younger JC told reporters.

 “I think what I most bring to the table is my speed. It’s something I’m able to change the game with.”

 Crawford Is An LSU Commit: But Could He Turn Pro?

 

 

If Crawford gets drafted high enough, he will probably forgo his collegiate career and join the minors right away. Many early mock drafts actually had him going to the Tampa Bay Rays with the 29th pick.

 The same team his dad reached four All-Star games and a World Series as member of. But the mock draft following the first ever MLB Combine has him going ninth to the Kansas City Royals.

 

Crawford is pretty low key and just grateful for his upbringing and the training he’s received to get him to this point in his professional life.

 “I was fortunate to have a great training program growing up. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve just progressively gotten better.”

 Royals Intrigued By Crawford: Could Take Him Ninth

 The Royals are looking to upgrade their team speed and Crawford would immediately give them a jolt in that area. For a franchise with a promising farm system, outfielders are scarce and especially centerfielders. Kauffman Stadium, home of the Royals possesses one baseball’s biggest and toughest centerfields to man, but Crawford would do just fine with his elite speed and range.

 

 

While Crawford doesn’t present the biggest or best bat as it pertains to power, most analysts project him to be a 17-22 homer guy for his career. That will come when he gets more time and development on how to drive the baseball to all parts of the field.

 Justin stands 6-foot-3 and 175 pounds, so his lanky build doesn’t project as a guy who’ll hit a ton of homers. But his speed will throw fear into opposing defenses and pitchers, who know once he’s on-base he can provide nightmares for the opposition.  Sort of like his daddy.

“Just Watching Him As A Kid, I Always Wanted To Have His Sweet Swing” | Top 2022 Prospect Termarr Johnson Models His Game After Robinson Cano

“Just Watching Him As A Kid, I Always Wanted To Have His Sweet Swing” | Top 2022 Prospect Termarr Johnson Models His Game After Robinson Cano

by | May 10, 2022 | THE THREE SPOT

Termarr Johnson is a 5-foot-10- and 175-pound sweet swinging second baseman who stars for Mays High School in Atlanta, Georgia.

The 18-year-old Johnson is one of the most fascinating prospects in the 2022 MLB Draft. He’s also the No.1 ranked high school baseball player in the country.

That sweet swing Johnson has developed comes from years of batting cage work and honing his craft daily.

He grew up watching and emulating MLBbros like Matt Kemp, Jason Heyward, but his favorite player was Robinson Cano. In fact, Johnson talked about his admiration for the talented former Yankee second baseman.

“Just watching him as a kid, I always wanted to have his sweet swing. That’s everything I just have been chasing ever since I was a kid. My approach always came from me just watching my brothers. I watch them hit and how they would take pitches and how to take control of everything. I always wanted to do that and they helped me learn how to do that and made me a better player.”

Johnson Wants To See An Uptick Of African-Americans In Baseball

As of 2021 only 7% of MLB rosters featured Black players. The young, inquisitive Johnson would like to see MLB create more opportunities and even more programs to spread the game to the inner cities.

“In basketball, you see guys like me who ball and are successful. In football too, you see a lot of guys who are successful and guys want to be like that but not so much in baseball,” Johnson said. 

Johnson Is High On Pirates Draft Board: And With Good Reason

While his size may cause a bit of a slide for him on some draft boards, the Pittsburgh Pirates seem like an ideal landing spot for him in the upcoming draft. Many scouts project Johnson as the best hitter in the draft, who’s capable of being a .300 hitter with 30-homer power. That comparison likens him to the aforementioned Cano or for power purposes, Astros second baseman Jose Altuve.

Blessed with elite bat speed and outstanding pop, Johnson’s a very explosive hitter who’s been capable of spraying the entire field with his bat. His opposite-field power is astounding considering he’s just 18. Johnson’s development up the ladder will be one worth watching.

Johnson Strives To Be A Great At Baseball And In Life

For an 18-year-old, Johnson seems to be mature beyond his years. He just wants to get drafted and play.

“For me honestly, I just want to be a baseball player. It doesn’t matter if I get drafted in the 40th round or the first round. I just want to be a baseball player. It doesn’t matter what route I go. I really don’t know my route but at the end of the day, I just want to be a baseball player and be one of the best baseball players to play the game.”

 

Being a positive role model is also very important to Johnson and something he’ll strive to accomplish.

“I don’t want anybody to have any bad blood with me, cause at the end of the day, I feel like it’s more important for me to be a good person, than a good baseball player … When I look back on my career, I want to be looked at as that type of person and type of baseball player.”

Look out for this high school phenom who is on his way to becoming an MLBbro.