Skip to main content

Crawford and Thompson off to weak starts in 2017

JP Crawford, image- Jay Floyd
One of the primary stories out of the Phillies developmental levels in the early going this season is the weak offensive production of minor league shortstop J.P. Crawford and two poor outings from promising hurler Jake Thompson.

Crawford, the organization's first round draft choice in 2013, is among the youngest players in the Triple-A International League, at 22 years old. Through 10 games for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, the talented lefty batter sports a .086 average with a triple and one RBI.

Thompson, who was a significant part of the return from Texas in the 2015 Cole Hamels trade, has been alarmingly ineffective in two starts for Lehigh Valley. In both outings he has lasted just 2 1/3 innings, while allowing nine earned runs on opening night and being tagged for six earned runs in his second game. In 4 2/3 total innings, the 23-year-old has allowed 15 hits and three walks while striking out three.

Entering the season, Crawford was widely ranked by nearly all outlets offering such rankings as the Phillies' top prospect. The six-foot-two 180-pounder has posted capable numbers at all levels (OPS'ing at a combined .774) until reaching Lehigh Valley last summer. A season ago, Thompson, who was originally a 2nd round draft pick of the Tigers in 2012, was exceptional for the IronPigs (2.50 ERA in 21 starts) and earned a promotion to the big leagues. In 10 starts at the top level of the sport, the six-foot-four 235-pound right-hander tallied a 3-6 record with a 5.70 ERA.

Jake Thompson, image- Jay Floyd
Despite the small sample size involved with this year's slumps, some fans seems to be in a panic about the duo that had long seemed to be key pieces of the Phils' rebuild.

Rest assured, gang, it's not a sign of things to come for either man.

This argument may be more appropriate for players with longer track records than Thompson and Crawford, but, because these players have posted such consistent numbers in the past, it's not crazy to expect that their statistics will get to a more typical place for each of them.  And imagine just how exciting it will be and what type of production is in order for Thompson get his ERA down toward his career 3.05 mark he had entering the season. The same applies for Crawford's impending efforts to get his average back to the .278 he tallied in four professional season prior to this one.

So, don't fret, Phillies fans, when it comes to these two top prospects. They will bounce back and the rebound is going to be glorious.  Take the advice that is commonly given to a player that may be struggling...be patient.

On the other side of things, some top performers in the Phils' minor league ranks include the organization's top catching prospect and a threesome of remarkable second basemen among others.

With Lehigh Valley backstop Jorge Alfaro hit safely in eight of his first nine games. The 23-year-old Colombian is batting .361 with a double, a triple, a home run and five RBI thus far for the IronPigs in nine contests.  Alfaro was also part of the return for Hamels from Texas.

Switch-hitting second baseman Jesmuel Valentin has continued his hot 2017 into the International League regular season. In 10 games, the 22-year-old sports a .355 batting average with a double and five RBI with the IronPigs. The son of former big league Jose Valentin was excellent in the Grapefruit League for the big league Phillies this spring as well, batting .366 in 21 games.

Also for Lehigh Valley, powerful first baseman Rhys Hoskins has enjoyed success, posting an impressive .324/.452/.676 slash line in 11 games.  The 24-year-old righty hitter had a tremendous campaign last year at the Double-A level where he batted .281, launched 38 homers and drove in 116 runs.  Hoskins was a 5th round draft choice in 2014.

With Double-A Reading, right-handed hitting second baseman Scott Kingery, the Phillies' 2nd round pick in 2015, is batting .313 with four homers, 12 RBI and three steals through nine games.  The 22-year-old spent time last off-season playing in the prestigious Arizona Fall League.

For Class A Lakewood second baseman Daniel Brito is off to a strong start as well, looking like a catalyst at the top of the BlueClaws' batting order.  In 11 games the lefty-batting Venezuela native has a .370 average with three home runs, eight RBI and three stolen bases.  The 19-year-old is getting his first taste of full-season ball, after playing the past two seasons in the Dominican Summer League and the Gulf Coast League respectively.

For Class A Advanced Clearwater, starting pitcher Alberto Tirado has not allowed a run in two starts (12 innings pitched), notching a 1-0 record for the Threshers.  Tirado, a 22-year-old righty, was acquired from Toronto in a trade for Ben Revere in 2015.

Also for the Threshers, local reliever Jeff Singer has tossed four scoreless appearances, recording a win and three saves in the process.  The 23-year-old lefty is a Rutgers-Camden product and a Philadelphia native.

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