The Philadelphia Phillies are in one of the best positions in baseball for the immediate and long-term future. With arguably the most talented roster in Major League Baseball and a fully loaded farm system, the Phillies should be successful for most of the next decade.

They have most of their core under contract for the next few years, making it difficult for some of their young players to make an impact, but some of them are so good that they need to figure out how to do that.

One of those players is Justin Crawford. Crawford is considered one of the most promising talents in the minor leagues, and although he is only 20 years old, there are signs that he will one day become a top player in the major leagues.

Maybe it’s not next season, but who knows? Things change, and he has the talent to potentially get a chance. As a hitter, he’s hitting .304/.350/.436 in 381 at-bats between A+ and AA in 2024.

However, according to Jim Callis of MLB.com, his running talent may be the best of any talent in baseball. Callis looked at the best talents in players and listed Crawford as the talent with the best running talent.

“Crawford’s father, Carl, led the American League in steals four times in five seasons in the mid-2000s, and Justin inherited his speed. He posted sub-6.2-second 60-yard dashes on the exhibition tour and displayed elite quickness in the game.

“He knows how to use it to beat hits (career average .312 in over two professional seasons), steal balls (93 of 114 attempts in 194 games) and make up ground in the middle of the field.”

Being an elite runner is one of the reasons for his success. It’s also a huge advantage for him considering his ability to do a lot on the field. Not only can he hit and run at a high level, but his movement also makes him a good outfielder.

If there is one area in Philadelphia where a promising player can come forward and show what he is capable of, it is the outfield.

That’s not to say they won’t try to sign someone in the offseason given their current situation, but if they’re looking to spend their money elsewhere, Crawford could be a stealth addition that could help the team as early as next year.