Phillies Draft Picks Crawford, Leiter Jr. Join Claws
2013 Phillies first-round pick JP Crawford and Toms River North graduate Mark Leiter Jr. have been added to the BlueClaws roster.
Crawford, taken 16th overall, joins the BlueClaws after beginning his career in the Gulf Coast League, hitting .345 in 39 games with 12 stolen bases. He was the league's leading hitter at the time of his promotion.
He is the first high school draft pick to ever play for the BlueClaws in the year he was drafted (a 2013 draft pick in 2013). Crawford also becomes the 12th Phillies first-round pick (including five supplemental first-round picks) to play for the BlueClaws, but the first to do so the year he was drafted.
Crawford went to Lakewood High School in California, the same high school that produced 2013 BlueClaws RHP Shane Watson (supplemental first round pick in 2012) and 2009 BlueClaws C Travis d'Arnaud (supplemental first round pick in 2007).
The Phillies drafted Leiter Jr. in the 22nd round this year from NJIT. He began his professional career with the GCL Phillies and most recently made two appearances for Clearwater. With the GCL Phillies, he went 1-0 with a 1.57 ERA in 11 games. He gave up two runs in six innings with Clearwater, including one run in five innings of an August 13th start against Daytona. He will start Monday's game for the BlueClaws at Delmarva.
Leiter Jr. is just the second Shore Conference alum to play for the BlueClaws, joining 2003 BlueClaw Casey Martinez of Holmdel. Leiter's father, Mark Sr., was a Phillies teammate of BlueClaws manager Mickey Morandini.
Pitcher Jonathan Musser has been transferred to Williamsport and infielder Miguel Abreu has been transferred to Lehigh Valley.
The BlueClaws return home on Tuesday to open a six-game homestand. They have just 10 home games remaining in 2013. Tickets are available by calling 732-901-7000 option 2 or online at BlueClaws.com.
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