Phillies prospect J.P. Crawford is heating up

1. Following a slow start after being promoted from Lakewood to high-A Clearwater on June 19, shortstop J.P. Crawford is beginning to heat up. Last year's first-round pick and The Inquirer's No. 1 Phillies prospect, Crawford was hitting .387 (12 for 31) with two RBIs and an .879 OPS in his previous nine games heading into the weekend. Overall Crawford was hitting .276 with four home runs and 10 RBIs in 116 at-bats for Clearwater. If the 19-year-old continues improving, could he begin next season at double-A Reading? "That's so far down the road," said Joe Jordan, the Phillies' director of player development.

2. Lefthander Jo-Jo Reyes showed some rust in his first start for Lehigh Valley during a 7-6 loss Tuesday to visiting Buffalo. Reyes allowed seven earned runs on nine hits in five innings. The 29-year-old Reyes has made 70 major-league appearances, including 62 starts. He last appeared in the majors in 2011 with Baltimore. He was signed by the Phillies earlier this month after starting the season in Korea. Lehigh Valley manager Dave Brundage said Reyes' performance wasn't surprising. "He just missed his spots," Brundage said. "He didn't command the baseball, and obviously this was his first outing and it is to be expected."

3. Reading catcher Tommy Joseph, who hasn't played for the Fightin Phils since suffering a sprained left wrist May 9, has been rehabbing with the Gulf Coast League Phillies. Jordan said the next step for Joseph, The Inquirer's No. 11 prospect, could come this week. ... Lehigh Valley outfielder Cameron Perkins, The Inquirer's No. 9 prospect, missed a few games with back tightness, but he returned Thursday. ... No. 2 prospect Maikel Franco left Lehigh Valley's game Tuesday against Buffalo with back tightness, but he also returned Thursday. Franco played first base Tuesday but returned to his more-accustomed position of third base on Thursday.

4. Zach Green was drafted as a third baseman by the Phillies in the third round in 2012, but this season he has been playing primarily first base at low-A Lakewood. That gives a chance for both him and 2011 fifth-round pick Mitch Walding to be in the lineup at the same time, with Walding at third. Jordan said that the 20-year-old Green could still find his way at third base in the future.

5. Infielder Derek Campbell, the Phillies' 20th-round draft pick in June, entered the weekend leading short-season Williamsport with a .305 average. In his first 118 at-bats, he had 15 doubles, two home runs, and 10 RBIs. "He's made a good first impression," Jordan said.