Justin Crawford, son of Carl Crawford, says he was too young to remember 2008 World Series

With the No. 17 pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, the Phillies selected 18-year-old outfielder Justin Crawford out of Bishop Gorman High School in Nevada. He’s a speedster with an advanced hit tool who will need some time to grow into his power. Phillies amateur scouting director Brian Barber thinks Crawford will be “an elite defensive center fielder in the future.”

If the name sounds familiar, it’s because Justin is the son of Carl Crawford, who played for the Tampa Bay Rays, Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers. He’s also a second cousin of former Phillies first rounder J.P. Crawford.

Justin was four years and nine months old when his dad Carl played in the 2008 World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies. As you would expect, Justin had little to no recollection of the event. Carl went 5-for-19 with home runs against Cole Hamels and Joe Blanton.

While he was too young to definitively recall if he was in Philadelphia to watch his father play in-person, Justin did say he remembers throwing out the first pitch in the postseason.

“I don’t think it was in that World Series,” Justin said.

As the son of an established big leaguer, Justin was able to “grow up” inside a major league clubhouse.

“Being able to see his every day lifestyle. I think that’s what led me to fall in love with [baseball] ,” Justin said.

It will be years before Justin is able to settle down at his own locker inside a big league clubhouse, but the Phillies are bullish on the 18-year-old’s eventual ability to both hit and defend at the big league level.

“I think the bat is advanced,” Barber said. “He’s hit against high-level competition throughout the summer. … The power is developing. It will probably be the last thing for him to come. It’s going to require him to put in work as far as getting stronger, which I’ve been able to speak to Justin personally and talked to him at the combine and he knows that’s one of his priorities when he gets into pro baseball right away.”

Barber does not anticipate any major issues as far as getting the player to sign. Justin made a college commitment to Louisiana State University, but it sounds like he’ll forgo that and head down to Clearwater.

“I’m going to be down there soon and ready to go. It’s going to be a lot of fun,” Justin said.

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