Mar 2, 2025; Dunedin, Florida, USA; Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Justin Crawford (80) signs autographs for fans before a game against the Toronto Blue Jays during spring training at TD Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Mar 2, 2025; Dunedin, Florida, USA; Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Justin Crawford (80) signs autographs for fans before a game against the Toronto Blue Jays during spring training at TD Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Nathan Ray Seebeck

Much has been made during this offseason about Phillies prospect Justin Crawford’s impending ascent to the big leagues. 

The chatter started right away, and Dave Dombrowski fanned those flames during his year-end press conference in October, just a week after the Dodgers ended the Phillies’ 2025 season.

“I’m not going to declare that anybody has a job, but there will be some people that we’re really open-minded to being with our big league club next year, coming out of Spring Training,” Dombrowski said back in October. “Justin Crawford is one of them.”

Well, the Phillies’ first full squad workout is on Feb. 16. It’s officially almost time for Crawford to prove he belongs on a big league roster. The thing is, there isn’t much left for Crawford to prove.

“If (Crawford is) himself, he’s going to be a really good player,” manager Rob Thomson said Monday in a press conference. “I’m not sure what more a guy can do in the minor leagues.”

Since the Phillies selected Crawford in the first round of the 2022 MLB Draft, the 22-year-old has indeed proven his worth every step of the way as he’s worked his way through the farm system. Crawford spent the full 2025 season with the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs, where he excelled; his .334 batting average topped the International League, and his .863 OPS paced the IronPigs. Crawford also stole the most bags of anyone on the team, registering an impressive 46 stolen bases in 112 games played.

So Crawford hits, he gets on base, and he runs. The running in particular could be pivotal for a team that ranked 12th in MLB last season with 124 stolen bases, 60 of which came from Trea Turner and Bryson Stott alone.

Come Spring Training, Thomson wants Crawford to stay the course and do what he does best: use the field, get on base, play small ball and play good defense. If he does all those things, Thomson said, then “we’ve got a guy that’s going to hit at the bottom of our lineup, get on base, and create a lot of havoc.”

Dombrowski echoed that sentiment, although he made a point not to outright guarantee Crawford a starting position on Opening Day. 

“We’re hoping Crawford’s on the club, and think he will be,” Dombrowski said Monday. “These guys have to earn it.”

Crawford has earned everything he can in the minors. Spring Training is his final litmus test. That being said, the Phillies don’t expect Crawford to be perfect, and they don’t expect a potential major league transition to be completely smooth.

“It’s tough for any guy breaking into the big leagues to jump in and tear it up. That’s difficult. So you have to always show patience with young players,” Dombrowski said. 

“We’re prepared to go through growing pains with any of our young players, because you don’t expect them to hit .350, or lead the league in ERA.”

The way Dombrowski sees it, Crawford’s big league audition can be a success if he keeps doing what he’s done throughout his professional career, and if he faces big league pitching with an even keel.

“I think he just has to be the normal, regular player that goes out there and doesn’t seem overmatched or overwhelmed, which I don’t think he will. That would surprise me a great deal,” Dombrowski said.

Thomson is looking forward to the youth movement that Crawford and others – namely Andrew Painter, Otto Kemp and, further down the road, Aidan Miller – can bring to his ballclub. All Crawford has to do is be himself. He has the tools. The only thing left to prove is that he won’t let the magnitude of this moment get the best of him.

“I don’t want him to do anything different than he has in the past,” Thomson said.

“Just be himself and go out and play, put (his) body in autopilot, and just let it happen.”

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