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Phillies

J.P. Crawford off to hot start

1Shortstop J.P. Crawford, the Phillies' first-round draft pick in June from Lakewood High in California, has gotten off to a quick start in the Gulf Coast League. Entering the weekend, Crawford was hitting .459 (17 for 37) and had a 1.001 on-base-plus-slugging percentage. The 6-foot-2, 180-pound Crawford turned 18 in January. "He is a very advanced, polished shortstop," said Joe Jordan, the Phillies' director of player development.

J.P. Crawford. (Scott Varley/Los Angeles News Group)
J.P. Crawford. (Scott Varley/Los Angeles News Group)Read more
    by By Marc Narducci, Inquirer
    Published 

1. Shortstop J.P. Crawford, the Phillies' first-round draft pick in June from Lakewood High in California, has gotten off to a quick start in the Gulf Coast League. Entering the weekend, Crawford was hitting .459 (17 for 37) and had a 1.001 on-base-plus-slugging percentage. The 6-foot-2, 180-pound Crawford turned 18 in January. "He is a very advanced, polished shortstop," said Joe Jordan, the Phillies' director of player development.

2. Catcher Tommy Joseph, who had 67 at-bats for Lehigh Valley before being sidelined with a concussion, is working his way back. Joseph returned to play one game in the Gulf Coast League; 11 with single-A Clearwater; and now is with double-A Reading, having played three games with the Fightin Phils entering the weekend. "Tommy is physically fine and just needs to play," Jordan said.

3. In his major-league debut on Friday, former Phils prospect Jarred Cosart (who was dealt to the Houston Astros in the deal for Hunter Pence) allowed the Tampa Bay Rays just two hits and no runs in eight plus innings to win, 2-1. Cosart had a no-hitter for 61/3 innings and he outdueled Cy Young winner David Price.

4. Yankees shortstop and future Hall of Famer Derek Jeter brought some added excitement on his rehab assignment last weekend for Scranton against Lehigh Valley. "It was nice to see Yankees fans and everyone [chanting] from the first inning, 'Derek Jeter,' " Lehigh Valley manager Dave Brundage said.

5. Righthanded reliever Steven Inch, who earned a berth on the South Atlantic League all-star team for Lakewood, won his first two decisions since being promoted to high-A Clearwater. Inch was 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA in 32/3 innings in his first two games for the Threshers.

- Marc Narducci