Despite ranking as the worst defensive outfielder in the league, the Philadelphia Phillies lineup will continue to include Justin Crawford in center field, after interim manager Don Mattingly voiced support for the rookie.
“He’s 22 years old,” Mattingly told Charlotte Varnes of The Athletic. “We feel he’s going to get better. He’ll continue to work. He’ll continue to improve.”
Crawford ranks dead last among all defenders in Defensive Runs Saved, per FanGraphs. He’s earned -8 DRS across 311.1 innings in the outfield. Oneil Cruz of the Pittsburgh Pirates is just behind Crawford among center fielders with a -6 DRS. Cruz’s gaffes at the position have been well-publicized since he made the move from shortstop.
The 22-year-old Crawford has made 34 starts in center field as Philadelphia’s primary option at the position. Brandon Marsh, Dylan Moore, and Adolis Garcia have chipped in occasionally up the middle.
Philadelphia Phillies Lineup Will Continue to Include Justin Crawford in Center Field
GettyJustin Crawford has been a regular in the Philadelphia Phillies lineup.
Crawford has struggled specifically with tracking down balls. Statcast’s Fielding Run Value metrics give him a -3 grade for Range. He’s actually been additive as a thrower, receiving a +1 for Arm. Crawford ranks in the 6th percentile for Outs Above Average.
“For us, it’s getting him to be as good as he can be,” Mattingly said, relayed by Varnes. “It doesn’t really matter what his numbers are — I mean, it matters, to a degree, but we just want to help him get better.”
Crawford’s -8 DRS would’ve ranked tied for the 14th-worst mark in the league in 2025. It’s a startling number just six weeks into the season. Only 12 defenders reached double digits in terms of negative DRS last year. Since the stat accumulates through the campaign, Crawford has plenty of time to slip further back. Jung Hoo Lee of the San Francisco Giants ranked dead last in DRS last season at -18.
Philadelphia took Crawford with the 17th overall pick in the 2022 draft. He hit well at every level of the minors, but his glove was a question mark. FanGraphs graded him as a 40 current defender and a 50 future defender. Crawford hasn’t taken that step forward yet.
Who Else Could the Phillies Play in Center Field?
Marsh is second on the team with 47 innings in center field this season. He made 72 starts at the position last year. The 28-year-old is an elite defender in left field, but he hasn’t had the same success in center field. Marsh has piled up 21 DRS in his career on the corners. In center field, he’s posted an ugly -13 DRS. However, he has been +1 DRS up the middle this season.
Crawford earned the spot in large part due to the suspension of Johan Rojas. The 25-year-old made 65 appearances in center field in 2025. He’s an elite option in the outfield, recording +22 DRS in his brief three-year career. The league handed Rojas an 80-game ban after he tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug. He’ll be a candidate to take some of the center field reps in the second half of the season.
Phillies Stand By Worst Outfielder in Baseball: ‘We Feel He’s Going to Get Better’