PHILADELPHIA — As he chided media for pushing the notion that the Phillies were running it back for 2026 in January, Rob Thomson had facts to present.
Foremost among them was that the introduction of young talents like Justin Crawford and Andrew Painter would offer energy for an established, veteran core. Yes, that nucleus looked the same on paper. But add in young hunger and spunk, and watch other guys raise their levels to match.
Through the minuscule sample of six games, Thomson looks prescient.
Both rookies delivered signature moments in their first major league homestand, Painter impressing to get the win in his debut on Tuesday night, then Crawford supplying the walk-off single in Wednesday’s 6-5 win over Washington in 10 innings.
It is merely a small start. But for two rookies about whom much has been written and more has been promised for years, it’s an enormously promising start.
“These guys bring energy, those young kids,” Thomson said Wednesday. “And hopefully this game and their performance will carry over.”
The Phillies managed to split an opening six-game homestand against teams that missed the playoffs last year despite — deep breath — Trea Turner hitting 5-for-26, Bryce Harper going 3-for-25, Alec Bohm sitting at 2-for-21 and Kyle Schwarber just 4-for-22.
The top four in the Phillies lineup is hitting .149, with more strikeouts (21) than hits (14). They’re slugging a robust .298. And the only reason why the sky isn’t falling around Citizens Bank Park is the kids.
Painter was thrust into the stopper role in his debut. The Nationals had pounded out 17 hits the night before against Taijuan Walker, who didn’t survive the fifth inning. Aaron Nola was just OK on Saturday. Jesus Luzardo gave up six runs in six innings on Sunday.
Painter’s 5.1 innings of one-run ball Tuesday wasn’t just a nice feather in his cap for posterity, it allowed the Phillies to lead a baseball for the first time in four games.
Wednesday brought a chance for Crawford to play the hero, though it’s hardly the first time he’s played a significant role.
“Craw’s a dynamic player,” Harper said. “We knew that as he was coming up through the minor leagues with speed, agility, all that kind of stuff. So it’s always fun to have a guy like that coming into your lineup.
“And then obviously Painter, same thing. We all knew it was in there, and it was just a moment of wondering when he was going to be here, and obviously him getting hurt, Tommy John, going through that, probably would’ve made the team out of camp that year but didn’t. He threw the ball great yesterday. So, love watching the young guys come through.”
After hitting .334 in Triple A, Crawford had nothing left to prove outside of the major leagues.
He’s come in and looked like exactly what the team needs him to be: not overwhelmed by the scene, not overmatched at the plate.
He singled on the first pitch he saw in the bigs and had two hits in his first day of work. After Wednesday’s walk-off celebration, he’s 7-for-17 with three runs scored. The game-winning run, scored by automatic runner Brandon Marsh, on Crawford’s single to right marked his first MLB RBI.
“That was special, definitely something I’ll remember for a very long time,” Crawford said.
For whatever other developmental failures they’ve endured, the Phillies have hit on their first-round picks since the three-year disaster streak that followed Nola’s selection in 2014. That was, in order, Cornelius Randolph, Mickey Moniak and Adam Haseley. “Yuck” is the technical term.
Bohm, the 2018 first-round pick, and 2019 first-rounder Bryson Stott are starters. The 2020 selection of Mick Abel became an elite closer via trade for Jhoan Duran. Painter, the 2021 pick, and 2022 selection Crawford are now up and starting. That’s how winning teams sustain, and it’s a big factor in the Phillies’ pursuit of a fifth straight playoff appearances.
Perhaps most important is that the rookies are being asked to fulfill discreet and limited initial roles. Painter has to be the fifth starter. His stuff could make him the best fifth starter in baseball. In a rotation fronted by All-Stars and Cy Young candidates, he doesn’t need to do too much.
The same is true for Crawford. The Phillies need him to be a nine-hitter, to get on base with regularity and play solid defensive center field, most days surrounded by plus defenders in each corner. He’s a very different hitter than many of the others in the lineup, which accentuates what he brings.
“Outstanding,” Thomson said of Crawford. “Three hits today, walk-off. He’s playing really good defense, playing smart baseball. He’s attempting to bunt when he should be. He’s throwing to the right base. He’s doing a lot of really good things.”
The young players were designed to be a force multiplier for the veteran talent in place. Their timelines have coincided such that Painter and Crawford can boost each other. They endured the will-they, won’t-they process on the precipice of the majors last year in Triple A. Now they’re navigating the Philly firsts in lockstep.
“It’s really cool,” Crawford said. “Me and Painter going through these moments together and kind of sharing them with each other, it’s nice to kind of have someone there with you.”