J.P. Crawford -- Prospect Evaluation

Perfect Game, the world's largest scouting organization with 2,384 MLB players and 15,805 MLB draft selections in its database, publishes regular scouting profiles on draft-eligible prospects leading up to the MLB Draft. J.P. Crawford, a 17-year-old shortstop from Lakewood, California, is featured as a top prospect for the 2013 draft class. Standing 6-2 and weighing 180 pounds, Crawford bats left and throws right. He plays for Yak Baseball West and is committed to the University of Southern California. Perfect Game ranks him as the top high school shortstop in the 2013 class and the fifth-best overall prospect in that draft year. Based on his evaluation, Crawford is projected to be selected in the first round of the 2013 MLB Draft.

JP Crawford is a 6'2", 175-pound left-handed batter and right-handed thrower from Lakewood High School near Los Angeles who has emerged as a first-round prospect discussion candidate. As the nephew of Dodgers outfielder Carl Crawford, he possesses exceptional athleticism and versatility across multiple positions. Crawford displays tremendous natural talent and tool diversity, with the ability to impact games as a shortstop, pitcher, and baserunner. In one notable game against Bishop Amat, Crawford moved from shortstop to pitcher in a tie game and dominated opposing hitters, then contributed offensively with a single, two stolen bases, and a run scored before returning to pitch the 8th inning. However, evaluators have expressed reservations about his overall polish and consistency. While Crawford demonstrates confidence and loose demeanor that suggests clubhouse leadership potential, scouts question whether he possesses the motor and intensity preferred in top prospects. At 18.54 years old on draft day, Crawford remains notably underdeveloped physically and in his fundamental skill set, leaving significant questions about his long-term positional fit and whether his raw talent will be fully realized with proper coaching and development.

J.P. Crawford is a shortstop prospect who was selected 16th overall in the 2013 MLB draft by the Philadelphia Phillies and signed for $2.3 million. He comes from an athletic family with his father Larry having played nine years in the Canadian Football League and Dodgers outfielder Carl Crawford as a relative. Crawford stands 6'2" and weighs 202 pounds, batting left and throwing right.

Defensively, Crawford has developed into a fluid defender with good range, particularly to his left and on balls in front. His above-average arm allows him to make plays from the hole with sure hands and good actions, projecting as a solid-average to slightly better defensive shortstop. However, he needs to improve on balls to his right. Offensively, Crawford possesses good hand-eye coordination and the ability to spray line drives to all fields, with a solid-average speed and good baserunning awareness. However, his high set-up and looping swing mechanics limit his ability to turn on fastballs; he needs to get stronger and refine his swing to improve against quality pitching.

Crawford was ranked the Philadelphia Phillies' #1 prospect from 2015-2018 and Baseball America's #16 prospect in 2018 (peak ranking of #6 in 2016). He has been consistently recognized for his defensive ability, infield arm strength, and strike-zone discipline. His recent performance shows a .206 average with 4 home runs across 102 at-bats, with an on-base percentage of .367. He made his MLB debut on September 5, 2017.

J.P. Crawford, a longtime top prospect in the Phillies organization, is being recalled to the majors from Triple-A Lehigh Valley following a strong second-half performance. Selected 16th overall in the 2013 MLB Draft, Crawford progressed rapidly through the minor leagues, reaching Triple-A by midseason 2016. His development stalled with poor performances in the first halves of 2016 and 2017, though he was hampered by injuries and maintained solid walk rates. His breakout came in the second half of 2017, when he became one of the International League's hottest hitters, including 12 home runs over the final two months.

Crawford's scouting profile emphasizes his elite plate discipline and on-base potential, paired with above-average defensive skills at shortstop. He possesses a quick, smooth left-handed swing that projects as average-to-plus at the major-league level despite modest batting averages in the high minors. His core strengths—walk rate and defense—suggest he will be a productive player. He has demonstrated plus raw power in batting practice and showed signs of translating that power to games in his recent hot streak.

The 23-year-old has ranked among the Phillies' top prospects for three consecutive years and was ranked 4th on Baseball Prospectus's midseason prospect list before his strong finish. His recall comes in September when roster flexibility is available, though incumbent shortstop Freddy Galvis currently occupies the position. Crawford's combination of on-base skills, defensive ability, and emerging power suggests significant upside potential at the major-league level.

J.P. Crawford is regarded as one of the most polished high school prospects in the 2013 MLB Draft class. The Lakewood High School shortstop from California posted impressive offensive numbers with a .452 batting average and .540 on-base percentage. At 6'2" and 180 pounds, Crawford combines natural strength and speed with a good eye at the plate and plus defensive skills. Scout evaluations consistently praise his athleticism and high ceiling, with Baseball Prospectus noting he is the only true Day 1 talent at shortstop expected to stick at the position long-term as a pro. He is also noted as a USC commit and cousin of Angels outfielder Carl Crawford. Crawford's combination of toolsy athleticism, promising offensive profile, and defensive foundation position him as expected to hear his name called early in the draft, with scouts noting the shortage of legitimate top-tier shortstop talent in this particular draft class.

J.P. Crawford is a left-handed batting, right-throwing shortstop who played for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2017 at age 22. In his debut season, Crawford appeared in 23 games with 87 plate appearances, posting a .214 batting average, .356 on-base percentage, and .300 slugging percentage. He recorded 15 hits including 4 doubles and 1 triple, with 16 walks and 22 strikeouts while stealing 1 base. His defensive metrics showed 2.7 Fielding Runs Above Average. The Baseball Prospectus database includes two scouting reports on Crawford from 2014 and 2016, indicating his profile as a prospect. By 2018, Crawford had transitioned to the Mariners organization, where he was tracked for 2019 preseason PECOTA projections at age 24, though specific projection numbers require subscription access to view.