July 17, 2015
Some more good news for the Phillies heading into the weekend? Yes, please.
In a year that's been dominated by losses, unanswered bullpen phones, a manager resignation, the introduction of a new boss, and even more losses, there's finally something to get fans excited. In fact, there are two somethings -- or rather, someones.
According to ESPN's Keith Law, the Phillies have two of baseball's top 50 prospects -- for now -- in shortstop J.P. Crawford and starting pitcher Aaron Nola.
Crawford, who was ranked seventh by Law prior to spring training, has jumped five spots and is now the No. 2 prospect on the updated* list, behind only Corey Seager of the Dodgers. Two weeks ago, Crawford was ranked as the fifth-best prospect by Baseball America.
Here's what Law had to say about Crawford, who was promoted to double-A Reading at the end of May:
Crawford will play the entire season at age 20 and already looks like a man among boys in Double-A, with no trouble recognizing the better quality of off-speed stuff he's seeing at the level while still showing tremendous range at shortstop. He shouldn't see the majors this year, but I don't think he'd be overmatched if he did, especially since he has made such quick adjustments everywhere the Phillies have sent him. [ESPN In$ider]
In 21 games with single-A Clearwater this season, Crawford hit .392 with a .489 OBP. Since his promotion, the 20-year-old shortstop is hitting .266 in 40 games, but is still sporting a solid .371 OBP, thanks in large part to his ability to draw walks (and not strike out). In 61 games between Reading and Clearwater, Crawford has 42 walks compared to just 29 strikeouts.
The other Phillies prospect on Law's list, No. 38 Aaron Nola, won't be a Top 50 prospect for much longer.
On Friday morning, the Phillies announced that Nola will make his major league debut on Tuesday against the Rays at Citizens Bank Park. Here's what Law had to say about the team's seventh-overall pick in the 2014 MLB Draft:
Nola's uncanny fastball command has carried over into pro ball, making the Phillies' decision to keep him out of major league spring training this year even more bizarre in hindsight than it was at the time. He has walked just 26 batters in 161 2/3 pro innings, has averaged better than a strikeout per inning since getting the call to Triple-A, and would be the Phillies' No. 3 starter if they called him up today. [ESPN In$ider]
Top pitching prospect Phillies No. 3 starter Aaron Nola was ranked much higher by Baseball America, who had him as the No. 12 on their midseason list.
You can read more on Nola's promotion to the Phillies, here.
Here are the top 10 prospects in the Phillies organization, according to Baseball America's midseason update (which was released prior to Nola being called up):
