Son of former Ray Carl Crawford to play in All-Star Futures Game

Justin Crawford has roamed around major-league ballparks for as long as he can remember.

He followed his father, former Rays leftfielder Carl Crawford, around Tropicana Field, running to his dad’s locker in the clubhouse and shagging balls during batting practice. There, Justin began to develop his own passion for the game.

“Just growing up in the clubhouse and being around the environment, it’s something that made me be, like, ‘Oh, I want to do this,’” Justin said.

Now, 19-year-old Justin hopes to follow in his father’s footsteps in the big leagues. The centerfielder has excelled for the Phillies’ Class A affiliate in Clearwater this season, leading the Threshers with 37 RBIs and 72 hits. He was one of two Phillies prospects chosen to play in the All-Star Futures Game Saturday at T-Mobile Park in Seattle.

Threshers hitting coach Chris Heintz said it wasn’t just Justin’s physical abilities that stood out when they first met after the 2022 draft, where Justin was taken 17th overall. His mental toughness when it came to hitting was clear, too. Being able to handle the highs and lows of baseball has been the “biggest key for his success,” Heintz said.

It’s something Justin may have picked up watching his father.

“(Being around him) and knowing the level of intensity and focus you have to have to put into everyday … it really ingrained it in me since I was a little kid,” Justin said. “It’s something I’ve grown up with.”

Carl thinks he played a role, too. He recently told The Philadelphia Inquirer that he and Justin’s mother (Amy Freeman) are both mentally tough, and now Justin has that edge as well.

Their physical play shares similarities, too.

Rick Vaughn was the vice president of communications for the Rays when Carl played there and worked as a scorer for one of Justin’s Florida State League games. He said Justin is shorter and thinner than Carl was in the minor leagues, and a faster baserunner. But both excelled on offense, Vaughn said.

“They’re similar in that they can just disrupt the game by getting on base and putting pressure on the defense,” Vaughn said.

The numbers prove it: Carl stole 55 bases in a full minor-league season in 2000 and 36 in 2001, while Justin has stolen 35 in just 52 games already this year.

Carl was a dominant minor-league player, named the International League Rookie of the Year while playing for the Triple-A Durham Bulls in 2002. Justin is less than a year into his minor-league career but appears poised for similar greatness.

Justin’s selection to the All-Star Futures Game is especially noteworthy. He was the only Low-A Florida State League player chosen and one of just two from the Phillies’ system, joining Double-A pitcher Mick Abel.

Justin said he wasn’t expecting to be chosen and was “extremely excited.”

“Just to be able to see hard work that’s paid off, it’s something I was really happy about,” he said. “Me and my family have been able to enjoy it.”

Justin has excelled for the Threshers, but he’s still a teenager living across the country from his mom and siblings. His family, who lives in Nevada, attended its first Threshers game two weeks ago.

The most special part of the visit? His mom cooked a meal for him and his teammates. For Justin, it was a reminder of home.

With Justin starring in Low-A ball, it’s unclear if or when the Phillies may move him up. One rival scout, not named in the story, told the Inquirer he believes the Phillies will keep Justin in Low-A to help instill a winning culture in him and his Thresher teammates.

Justin’s future likely will feature bright lights and big leagues. But, for now, he’s focused on taking things one day at a time.

“I’ve learned to stay in the moment,” Justin said. “You can only control what’s happening right in the moment, and just go and attack it.

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