Skip to main content

Crawford & Franco play on national stage in Futures Game

JP Crawford, Image- Jay Floyd
Two Phillies prospects participated in this weekend's 16th annual MLB All-Star Futures Game.

In Team USA's 3-2 victory over Team World on Sunday, shortstop J.P. Crawford went 1-for-2 with a single and a stolen base for the winners. Third baseman Maikel Franco went 0-for-2, including a fly out with a runner on base for the final out of the game for the losing squad. The contest was nationally televised.

Crawford has tallied a .235 average with four homers and eight RBI in 21 games since he was promoted to Class A Advanced Clearwater. The lefty batting 19-year-old was an All-Star this season with Class A Lakewood, sporting a .295/.398/.405 slash line in 60 games in the South Atlantic League.

Scouts are very high on Crawford's skills and it's likely he'll begin popping up near the top of national prospect rankings before long.

Franco, began the season with some struggles, but has heated up as of late. After pledging to fans in a recent interview that can be seen on this week's Phillies Nation TV (new episodes air each Tuesday at 6 PM on The Comcast Network) that he was about to turn things around offensively, the 21-year-old has posted a .390/.419/.707 slash line in nine games this month.

Overall this season, Franco is batting .230 with six home runs and 42 RBI in 87 games with Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

The MVP of the Futures Game was Texas prospect Joey Gallo, who mashed a two-run homer in the sixth inning to give his team a lead that they wouldn't surrender.

Gallo is batting .307 with 31 home runs and 73 RBI in 85 games this season at Class A Advanced and Double-A.

The 21-year-old was selected by the Rangers 39th overall in 2012, the pick immediately before the Phillies' turn in that draft. The Phils drafted right-handed hurler Shane Watson, who is still sidelined following off-season shoulder surgery.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Jersey Shore clinches playoff berth on final day of regular season

Ottto Kemp, image- Jay Floyd With an extra-inning victory over first-half division champions Hudson Valley on Sunday, the Class A Advanced Jersey Shore BlueClaws clinched the team's first playoff appearance since 2018, winning the second-half division title. Key performers in the BlueClaws' clincher were righty hurler Jason Ruffcorn, who threw three innings of relief to earn the victory and third baseman Otto Kemp, notched three hits, a walk, two stolen bases and plated the game winning run in the 11th inning on a sacrifice fly.  On top of that, Kemp, who turned 24-years-old on Saturday, made an absolute game-saving defensive play to help the club hold their lead in the bottom of the 11th frame. One of Jersey Shore's most consistent performers all season long has been right-handed reliever Cam Wynne.  The Phillies' 20th round draft pick in 2021 out of Nebraska.  In 34 appearances, one start, the 24-year-old tallied a 1-1 record with one save, a 2.44 ERA and a .190 batti

PhoulBallz Interview: BlueClaws OF Justin Crawford

Justin Crawford w/ junior reporter Evan At the age of 19, outfielder Justin Crawford has played his way into the conversation of being considered as one of baseball's top prospects. The son of four-time MLB All-Star Carl Crawford, Justin has looked every bit as impressive as his position as the 17th overall draft selection last year would have most fans thinking he should be.  He opened the season with Class A Clearwater where, in 69 games, he notched a .344/.399/.478 slash line.  And since mid-August when he was promoted to Class A Advanced Jersey Shore, the younger Crawford has posted a .300/.364/.440 line.  He's also stolen 44 bases in 52 attempts overall. And while the BlueClaws enter the final week of the regular season 1/2 game out of first place in their division, I spoke with Justin Crawford about the team's hopes of making the postseason for the first time since 2018. I also asked Justin about the similarities and differences between his skillset and his father'

RHP Pipkin headed to AFL after hot August

After completing what was easily the best month of his career, righty hurler Dominic Pipkin is ready to face the tough competition of the prominent Arizona Fall Leage.   Pipkin, who was the Phillies' 9th round draft selection in 2018, has had moderate success in his five years as a pro, posting a 4.93 ERA, a 7.6 K/9 mark and a .260 batting average against mostly at the lower levels on the minors. After missing time this year with an unspecified ailment, the six-foot-four 170-pounder proved to be healthy as he dominated AA competition in nine appearances with the Reading Fightin Phils during August.  Pipkin's impressive production resulted in a 1-0 record with a save and a 0.96 ERA while striking out eight and walking three in 9 1/3 innings. The California native says his efforts to improve have helped him touch 100 MPH on the radar gun, while his fastball velocity is mostly around 96 MPH.   Pipkin's arsenal includes that improved fastball as well as a slider while his curve