J.P. Crawford Studies Video To Reestablish His Swing

The game often came easily for shortstop J.P. Crawford as he climbed the ladder in the Phillies system. His combination of athleticism and instincts helped establish him as one of baseball’s top prospects.

But the start of the 2017 season offered something new for the 22-year-old: A slump that saw him hit just .183/.299/.238 through his first 35 games at Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

After just five hits in his first 56 at-bats, Crawford ramped up his video study. While looking at his swing from 2015, when he hit .288 at high Class A Clearwater and Double-A Reading, he noticed his hands had migrated downward. He moved them back and up and started noticing a difference.

“I’m able to drive some stuff and feel a lot more comfortable at the plate,” he said.

Climbing out of his early-season hole won’t be easy. But after bottoming out at .089 on April 25, Crawford hit .257 in his next 70 at-bats. His on-base percentage was a more Crawford-like .366.

A first-round pick from Lakewood (Calif.) High in 2013, Crawford immediately became the system’s top prospect—which attached high expectations. Somewhere along the way, folks forgot that he might struggle now and then. Ultimately, he could grow from this.

“Failure can sometimes be important in a player’s development,” Lehigh Valley manager Dusty Wathan said. “You learn how to deal with it and the game doesn’t become a roller coaster.”

Because the Phillies will have to protect Crawford on the 40-man roster this fall, he could receive big league time later this season. Club officials are eager to see how much he improves between now and then.

“We want to give it more time before we put any stock in an early-season slump,” general manager Matt Klentak said.

Crawford: “No one ever wants to go through that slump. But it’s in the past now.”