Phillies Select J.P. Crawford in First Round of 2013 Draft

J.P. Crawford, an 18-year-old high school shortstop, was selected by the Phillies in the first round (16^th overall) of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft, Marti Wolever, Assistant General Manager, Amateur Scouting, announced tonight.

Crawford, 6-foot-1, 180 pounds, played for Lakewood High School in Lakewood, Calif., where he batted .432 in 25 games with eight doubles, two triples, two home runs, 10 RBI, and 13 stolen bases.

The left-handed hitting shortstop comes from the same high school as right-hander Shane Watson whom the Phillies selected with their first pick (40^th overall) in last year’s draft. Crawford is the school’s all-time leader in hits (179), runs scored (162), stolen bases (73) and walks (72).

He is the cousin of Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Carl Crawford and was viewed as the top shortstop in the draft. According to scouting reports, he has great speed, but scouts wonder if he'll hit for average or power.