Phillies prospects Mick Abel, Justin Crawford picked to play in the MLB Futures Game

Abel is among the top prospects in a pitching-rich Phillies farm system, while Crawford heads a touted crop of center fielders in the organization.

Justin Crawford is batting .346 with 32 stolen bases at single-A Clearwater.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer

by Scott Lauber

Published June 26, 2023, 2:28 p.m. ET

Two of the last three Phillies first-round picks are about to return to the national stage.

Mick Abel and Justin Crawford were named Monday to the National League roster for the Futures Game, the annual prospect showcase that is part of All-Star week festivities. This year’s game will be held July 8 in Seattle.

Abel, the 15th overall pick in 2020, has a 4.53 ERA, 64 strikeouts and 32 walks in 55⅔ innings for double-A Reading. The 21-year-old right-hander grew up in Portland, Ore., and will get a chance to return to the Pacific Northwest.

“It’d be nice to be that close to home,” Abel said recently before a game in Reading when asked about the possibility of being picked for the Futures Game. “It’d be cool for family and friends to come out and watch.”

Crawford, the 17th overall pick last year, is batting .346/.395/.456 with 10 doubles, five triples, and no homers in 46 games for low-A Clearwater. The 19-year-old center fielder is also 32-for-36 in stolen-base attempts.

Abel and Crawford are ranked by Baseball America as the Phillies’ No. 2 and 3 prospects, respectively. They are 31st and 96th on the publication’s midseason top-100 prospects list.

The Phillies’ farm system is heavy with pitching talent, led by the trio of Andrew Painter, Abel, and Griff McGarry. Crawford heads a group of touted center fielders that includes Simón Muzziotti at triple A and Johan Rojas at double A, in addition to young Brandon Marsh and Cristian Pache in the majors.

Crawford’s father, Carl, played in the Futures Game in 2002 at Miller Park in Milwaukee and went on to be a four-time All-Star outfielder in 15 major league seasons with the Rays, Red Sox, and Dodgers.

Abel is closer than Crawford to contributing at the major league level, although it’s likely the Phillies will keep him in the minors all season.

The Futures Game rosters were selected by MLB, in conjunction with all 30 teams, MLB Pipeline, and Baseball America. The NL team will be managed by former Phillies outfielder Raul Ibañez; the AL squad will be led by longtime Mariners second baseman and MLB Network analyst Harold Reynolds.