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Lowkey prospects to watch in the New York Yankees farm system

Rashad Crawford

When you’re involved in a trade that includes the profoundly praised Gleyber Torres, you’re understandably going to be considered a mere throw in.

Brought over in the deal that sent Aroldis Chapman to the World-Champion Chicago Cubs, Rashad Crawford has the potential to bud into a legitimate major leaguer in time.



Last season, playing the whole year in the Florida State League, the 23-year old slashed .264/.341/.380 slash line with 26 steals in 33 attempts (78.8%).

After coming over to the Yankees organization, however, he slashed .291/.381/.364 in 127 plate appearances while seeing a 32 point leap in OPS.

Crawford may not have been that high of a pick (taken in the 11th round in 2012), but he has a high ceiling with an athletic body. Not to mention the general increase in stolen bases since rookie ball.

In addition to his speed and impressive offensive output in Tampa, he didn’t make a single error in 239 total innings in the outfield.

“He’s a plus-plus runner, plays a really good center field and he’s got a nice looking swing,” Tampa Yankees manager Patrick Osborn told Randy Miller of NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. “He’s a kid who wasn’t a high pick, but he has a really high ceiling. His potential really hasn’t been tapped into yet.”

It’s hard to presume how fast he advances through the system with the plethora of outfield prospects on the farm, but if Crawford can continue to develop and improve, he could make things interesting.