Skip to main content

Crawford injured, replaced in Arizona Fall League by Stankiewicz

Top Phillies prospect J.P. Crawford will miss the remainder of the Arizona Fall League season after suffering a small tear in his left thumb, as first reported by CSN's Jim Salisbury.

Crawford, who was the Phillies top draft selection in 2013 (16th overall), had gone 3-for-20 (.150 average) in five games with Glendale in the AFL this month.

The 20-year-old shortstop missed time early in the 2015 season with an oblique strain.

In a season split between Class A Advanced Clearwater and Double-A Reading, the lefty batting Crawford sported a combined .288 batting average with a .793 OPS in 107 regular season games. He was also named a mid-season All-Star in the Eastern League with Reading and competed in the MLB All-Star Futures Game.

The ailment for Crawford does not require surgery and he is expected to be healthy for spring training.

Stankie
Drew Stankiewicz, image- Jay Floyd
Replacing Crawford with the Glendale Desert Dogs will be infielder Drew Stankiewicz, who was an 11th round draft pick by the Phillies out of Arizona State University in 2014.

The 22-year-old lefty spent time during the 2015 regular season with Clearwater and Class A Lakewood, posting a .283/.345/.368 slash line in 99 games. "Stankie", as he's referred to by teammates, splits his time on defense between shortstop and second base.

The son of former big league player and minor league coach Andy Stankiewicz, Drew attended Arizona Fall League games as a child.

"My excitement level is great," Stankiewicz expressed on Friday. "I remember watching these games when my dad was a coach back when I was little and (I) always wanted to play here."

The call to fill the void on the Glendale roster came as a surprise for Stankiewicz, but he wasn't just sitting at home on the couch getting rusty. He was already set to stay active on the diamond this autumn.

"The call came as a surprise because I was going to work out with Team USA and literally checking in and 10 minutes later I had to return all the stuff because of me playing here. I am ready for this opportunity as I have been working out regularly with my off-season program," the five-foot-nine 160-pounder said.

Stankiewicz understands the call for him to tackle this challenge was under less than ideal circumstances with a teammate getting hurt, but he's looking forward to the chance to play among some of the top prospects in baseball.

"I am honestly just really happy about my opportunity to play right now. Worked out great me being here in the off-season anyway. And (I'm) just looking to make the best of this opportunity and play hard."

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Prospect Nation 2012: #1 RHP Trevor May

With a massively impressive campaign in 2011 for the Class A Advanced Clearwater Threshers, right-handed starting pitcher Trevor May locked down his spot as Philadelphia's top prospect and is on the fast track toward the big leagues. He is the reigning Paul Owens Award winner, given to the top pitcher and player in the Phillies' developmental system each year. In 27 starts with the Threshers in 2011, May posted a 10-8 record with a 3.63 ERA, while striking out a Florida State League leading 208 batters in 151 1/3 innings. He also held opposing hitters to a .221 average. The Phillies' 4th round draft pick from 2008, May earned the win in the 50th annual Florida State League All-Star Game at Bright House Field last year. He also was twice named FSL Pitcher of the Week and earned Phillies Minor League Pitcher of the Month honors for June. After signing with Philadelphia, May helped lead the rookie level Gulf Coast League Phillies to a championship in 2008. In 5 regular ...

PhoulBallz Interview: First round pick Bryson Stott

Bryson Stott, image- Jay Floyd Shortstop Bryson Stott , the Phillies' first round draft selection this year, has enjoyed a successful initial pro campaign.  En route to being recognized as an All-Star for the Class A short-season Williamsport Crosscutters the 21-year-old UNLV product has tallied a .295 average with six home runs and 25 RBI in 45 minor league contests. Last week I spoke with the lefty hitting Stott to discuss his transition to professional baseball, joining the Phillies organization and plenty more.  Read ahead for that interview.  -Obviously, your performance and the production on the field is going well, but how do you feel you have adapted to the pro life? It feels good.  You hear about the everyday grind, but you don't really believe it till you feel it. I would say that's the difference between college and the pros, is you're not practicing, you're playing games every day.  I would say that's the biggest difference.  But I...

Rappers in Phillies Caps

Weekend greetings to you phine pholks out there. Today's post features pictures of rappers wearing Phillies caps. Why rappers in Phillies caps, you ask? Because... Any other questions? We will start things off properly by going with a highly recognizable hip hop star. 50 Cent stays constantly relavant by consistantly creating radio friendly material to help sell (G) units, while he "keeps it real" by still rapping about the thug life he lived before becoming the 2nd highest earning black entertainer in America. 50 is seen here in a recent interview rocking a throw-back Phillies cap. Next up we'll use a throw-back screen cap from what may be the very first major appearance by a rapper wearing Phillies gear. Chuck D, of legendary rap group Public Enemy, wore a Phillies cap in the music video for rap anthem Fight The Power in 1989. The song was the lead single from the soundtrack for Spike Lee's film Do The Right Thing . Next up we'll go with some home grown tal...