The 2026 Rookie of the Year could already be in Philadelphia, according to MLB Pipeline — and the expected choice reinforces the hype. DD
It’s only a matter of time until we see this stud make his debut.
With Drake Baldwin of the Atlanta Braves getting the nod for the 2025 National League Rookie of the Year, MLB Pipeline’s Jim Callis, Sam Dykstra and Jonathan Mayo have already started looking ahead to 2026. With predictions for which prospects could take home the hardware next year, their pick for the Philadelphia Phillies makes a lot of sense.
In identifying one player from each minor league system, it was unshockingly unanimous that Callis, Dykstra and Mayo picked outfielder Justin Crawford. The Phillies’ No. 3 MLB Pipeline prospect and No. 54 overall could easily be the team’s chance at seeing their first Rookie of the Year Award since 2005, when another coveted prospect named Ryan Howard made his debut and won the award.
While Phillies No. 1 prospect Andrew Painter struggled this year and No. 2 Aidan Miller finished the season in Triple-A Lehigh Valley, it was Crawford’s performance throughout the 2025 season that really started turning heads.
Phillies’ Rookie of the Year candidate Justin Crawford could be the missing link in 2026
The 21-year-old Crawford missed the last month of the season, his first full season with the IronPigs, after a collision on Sept. 4 with teammate Otto Kemp. Up until then, he was phenomenal. Crawford is coming off a .334/.411/.452 season with 46 steals. His overall minor league batting average now sits at .322.
With an interesting reverse split, batting .376 against lefties and .324 against righties, the lefty Crawford has done nothing but succeed when it comes to putting the bat to the ball throughout every stage of his minor league career. The Phillies firmly believe that he will be an everyday player once they deem him MLB-ready.
His concussion at the end of the season shut him down. However, this allowed both Crawford and the Phillies front office to envision a 2026 in which he could very well be starting in center field on March 26, when the Phillies will host the Texas Rangers on Opening Day.
A reunion with Harrison Bader in free agency, or another move like it for a corner outfielder or another MLB center fielder, could determine whether Crawford’s name will be on the 26-man roster, in addition to the 40-man.
“Do we think he can play center field?” Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said about Crawford at the GM Meetings (subscription required), per Charlotte Varnes of The Athletic. “Yes. He struggles with certain things compared to others, but he’s improved. His speed makes up for — maybe not (having) the quickness of a jump like (Johan) Rojas would have. … We feel confident.”
If and when one of the team’s most coveted prospects makes his debut, fans will be watching every at-bat. Crawford is one of the most exciting position prospects to come up since Jimmy Rollins or Howard. With how highly Dombrowski speaks of Crawford, he will be making a run for Rookie of the Year when he debuts.
