Phillies top prospect J.P. Crawford headed to majors, but how soon?

CLEARWATER, Fla. - J.P. Crawford packed the belongings of his locker last month, hugged some teammates, and exited the Phillies clubhouse. The shortstop's time in major-league spring training was finished. And if the Phillies have their way, that will be the last time they send their top prospect to minor-league camp.

It is all but certain that Crawford will reach the majors this season. He is headed back to triple A, where he spent the final four months of last season and faced adversity for the first time as a professional. A fast start and Crawford, who turned 22 in January, could push his way to the majors by May.

"I'm not really thinking about that," Crawford said. "I just have to go out there every day and get better. If they call me up, they call me up. I'm not worried about that."

Crawford batted .244 last season with a .328 on-base percentage in 87 games at Lehigh Valley. He was one of the International League's youngest players and all of his at-bats came against older pitchers. Baseball America ranked him in February as the 12th-best prospect in all of baseball. But he never seemed to find a groove after being promoted from Reading. Crawford's numbers with the IronPigs were well below his career averages. This season will gauge how he responds to struggle.

"They're one step away from the big leagues, and they put a little extra heat on themselves instead of just going out and playing," Phillies bench coach Larry Bowa said. "You try to tell them, 'Go out and play, don't worry about what anybody's doing at the big-league level. If you do what you're supposed to do, you're going to be in the big leagues.' It sounds simple, but when you're a young kid - obviously the hype on him, all the kids, is way up there. They do put pressure on themselves."

Crawford will be the key piece of a triple-A team that has the organization's top prospects. The IronPigs - usually a mix of prospects and veteran castoffs - will feature a starting lineup of prospects at every position except third base. The Phillies future is just a drive up I-476.

"I feel like we're all just one step away to finally go for it, go for it all, and get a World Series. It's going to start here, in double A and triple A. It'll pay off," Crawford said. "We love to win. We hate to lose. The last couple of years, every time we lost, everyone is mad. We love winning. That's what we're going to do."

Crawford's trying season was not helped by a loose bone the size of a fingernail in his left knee that nagged him for the last two years but really became a bother last season. Crawford had an MRI exam during the season but decided to play through it. He had arthroscopic surgery in September to clean out his knee, rehabbed for a few weeks in Clearwater, and reported to spring training "ready to go."

He also reported to his second major-league camp with five to 10 extra pounds of muscle. Crawford worked out at a gym near his Southern California hometown with a former high school teammate who is now a personal trainer. Crawford said the added muscle is already noticeable.

"In batting practice and the games, I feel a lot stronger on the field," Crawford said. "I worked on that hard this offseason. It's paying off for me right now."

Manager Pete Mackanin said he did not have to be overly concerned about Crawford this spring because the team has two middle infielders already entrenched. But decisions will have to be made once Crawford arrives.

Shortstop Freddy Galvis is a premier defender but had the worst on-base percentage in all of baseball last season. Cesar Hernandez was the Phillies' best hitter last season (.294 average and .371 on-base percentage), but his mental lapses draw the ire of the coaching staff.

An early-season trade to move Hernandez or Galvis could be possible. The Phillies also could transition Galvis into a utility role. He hit 20 homers last season and can play any position, even the outfield. The team's longest-tenured player is lauded for his leadership, a trait the Phillies would not want to subtract from a young team.

But those concerns may not be worth much thought. Scott Kingery, drafted in the second round in 2015, had a great spring training. The middle infielder will likely begin the season at double A but seems to be on the fast track to the majors. Jesmuel Valentin also impressed this spring and gives the Phillies another option at second. Crawford's double-play partner is likely not yet in the majors.

"If there were a pressing need at the shortstop position, I'd be more concerned to make sure he's ready for the big leagues. But he's going to go to triple A and get his bat going and get his game going, and then we'll see where we go from there," Mackanin said. "I certainly believe he's going to play in the big leagues at some point. But we don't have a pressing need at the shortstop position, which is good in his case because he can go down there and get himself on track. He's got a quick bat. I like his hands and the way he controls the strike zone."

Crawford will drop his bags this week in Allentown to start his fourth full season since being drafted in the first round. He raced to triple A, and his days are likely numbered at the highest level of the minor leagues. The call from Philadelphia will come in the next six months, and Crawford will once again be emptying his locker, hugging teammates, and exiting a clubhouse.