Phillies draft Bishop Gorman’s Justin Crawford in 1st round
The Philadelphia Phillies, who already have Bryce Harper and Bryson Stott on their major league roster, again reached back to Southern Nevada to bolster their team.
They selected Bishop Gorman High School outfielder Justin Crawford on Sunday with the 17th pick.
“I take a lot of pride in that team, both boys out of Vegas,” Crawford told MLB TV. “Hopefully, one day we’ll be playing out there together and it’ll be a lot of fun and we’ll win a few championships together.”
An attempt to reach Crawford for comment was unsuccessful.
His draft slot has a value of $3.79 million.
Crawford, 18, is the fourth player from Las Vegas in five years to either go in the first round or the competitive balance portion, which is just outside the first round. One of those was Stott, a UNLV and Desert Oasis standout, who was taken 14th in 2019 by the Phillies. He made the big league roster this season but is hitting .188 with six home runs.
Harper, who starred at Las Vegas High and College of Southern Nevada, was the No. 1 overall pick in 2010 by the Washington Nationals. The two-time National League MVP signed with the Phillies in 2019.
Crawford grew up around major league clubhouses. He is the son of former 15-year veteran and four-time All-Star Carl Crawford, who was with him in Los Angeles for the draft.
The two hugged after commissioner Rob Manfred announced the selection. Carl Crawford went in the second round in 1999 to Tampa Bay, so the son has already one-upped him.
“He’s really proud of me,” Crawford told MLB TV. “He’s really happy. Without him, I don’t know where I would be.”
Crawford will have a decision to make because he also committed to Louisiana State. He was noncommittal when asked last week by the Review-Journal, saying LSU or professional baseball would be a great option.
At Gorman this past season, Crawford batted .503 with 52 RBIs and 20 stolen bases. He played for the Gaels three seasons after transferring from a small Southern California high school.
He moved to Las Vegas to get the most out of his abilities, and now Crawford is a first-round draft pick.
“Just a whole bunch of emotions,” he told MLB TV. “This is something I’ve dreamed of since I was a little kid.”
The draft continues Monday with rounds three through 10, and Basic outfielder/left-handed pitcher Mason Neville could be taken.
Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com. Follow @markanderson65 on Twitter.