Justin Crawford will certainly hear his name called in the first round. The number 14 prospect, according to MLB.com, has all the tools to be an everyday MLB player. He is currently committed to Louisiana State University. Crawford is another son of former major-leaguer Carl Crawford who had a solid career with the Tampa Bay Rays, Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Like his father, Justin is an outfielder. Though his weight is not the same as his dad’s, he brings the same style of play. His high school statistics for the last two years are some impressive offensive numbers. In 18 games in 2021, he hit .492 with 27 runs scored. For 2022, he hit .503 in 42 games, with 5 home runs, 52 RBIs and scored 60 runs of his own.
Strengths
When looking at his strengths, scouts immediately mention Crawford’s speed on the bases and playing the outfield. His throwing arm is above average, and he has no problem chasing down a fly ball hit into the gap. With his knowledge of the game and what it takes to be successful, he can also step in and be a leader of the outfield.
As noted by the stats above, Crawford’s hitting displays good contact ability and bat speed. While he has more contact than power at this point, his speed makes up for it. His feel for the bat and his quick wrists enable him to make a lot of contacts and hit line drives to all fields. With just 13 combined strikeouts in his junior and senior years in high school, it shows he has the skills it takes to be a successful hitter.
Another thing that helps Crawford is that he’s the son of a former MLB player. He knows the game others entering the draft don’t. That will help him navigate the draft process and could be something that helps with the jump from high school to the minors.
Weaknesses
It is not that easy to find weaknesses in Crawford’s game. However, if anything stands out, it’s his power. He needs to be coached on a wider stance as a professional, which would allow him to hit for more power. He has a tall and slender frame, and it is predicted that he will still fill it out as he matures. That should lead to more power.
As with any high-schooler, age can be a weakness, mainly because younger players are still developing physically, somewhat. Also, the game’s mental aspect can play as younger players face top-notch competition and tedious travel stresses. However, Crawford has his father’s knowledge and experience to rely on, so this may not be as big an issue for him.
MLB Player Comparison
You don’t have to go far from home to find a pro comparison for Justin Crawford; he meets every strong point his father had. Anyone who remembers watching Carl Crawford play should not be surprised that Justin Crawford is one of the better athletes in this class of prospects. Both Crawford’s are 6′ 3″, though the elder’s frame held more weight. They both have elite bat-to-ball skills along with some power. Altogether, their speed and fielding abilities are fairly alike also. However, Justin flashes more speed potential.
Looking at current MLB players, a good comparison to Justin Crawford is Cincinnati Reds Tyler Naquin. Naquin and Crawford have quick wrists that enable them to make many contact and hit line drives to all fields. However, Crawford looks to be a much better hitter for average. Defensively, both have above-average arms, speed, and good instincts.
Main Image
Players Mentioned:
