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J.P. Crawford continues July surge with grand slam

The month of July has been a source of optimism for the IronPigs shortstop.

J.P. Crawford is batting .228 for Lehigh Valley after an awful April.
J.P. Crawford is batting .228 for Lehigh Valley after an awful April.Read more(Steven M. Falk/Staff Photographer)

J.P. Crawford clapped three times and enthusiastically high-fived everyone in Lehigh Valley's dugout.

Once the unanimous choice as the Phillies' top prospect, Crawford deceptively slid under the catcher's tag for an inside-the-park grand slam on Wednesday night against visiting Gwinnett.

As Crawford rounded third base, Mark Leiter Jr., who had just crossed the plate, put his hands in the air, not expecting the IronPigs shortstop to beat the tag — which he didn't, but a slight pause and careful slide allowed Crawford to evade the mitt of Gwinnett catcher David Freitas.

"I was trying to not miss a fastball," Crawford told reporters after the game. "Put a good swing on it. When I was going to third base and saw Dusty [Wathan]'s arm waving, I'm like, 'Here we go.' And then I see the catcher and that I was out by a good 10 to 15 feet. I tried to deke him out. I got my foot in."

For the 22-year old Crawford,  July has been a source of optimism after he opened the season 11-for-76 (.145) in April  and continued his struggles in June (15-for-75, .200.)

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Crawford's grand slam was his seventh home run and 14th extra base hit — in July alone. Entering Thursday's game, Crawford had raised his season average to .228 with nine homers and 44 RBIs. Over the course of April, May and June, Crawford collected just 12 extra-base hits combined.

"I just have to keep doing the same thing that I've been doing," Crawford said. "Prepare the same way before the game. It starts there. I'm finally starting to see results."

The Phillies' first-round pick in 2013 missed 10 days in mid-June with a minor groin injury, returning June 20 and collecting eight hits in his first five games back.

But because of a poor first half this season, Crawford has slipped from seemingly every ranking of baseball's prospects. MLB Pipeline no longer lists Crawford as the Phillies' most promising talent — Mickey Moniak now holds that spot, with Crawford fourth.

Earlier this month, Baseball America dropped the shortstop 80 spots to No. 92 in baseball. Crawford tweeted later that day, "All it is is motivation."

"I was the same guy," Crawford said of his slump. "My swagger is my swagger, it'll never go away, I was just raised that way."

Wathan, Crawford's manager at Lehigh Valley, also hasn't seen much change in his shortstop's personality this season. It is unlikely that Crawford will earn a September promotion to the majors, although there is a slim possibility if he continues this month's production. If he remains with the IronPigs, Crawford must be added to the 40-man roster this winter, signaling to a presumed debut with the Phillies next season.

"Ever since he's come back, he's gotten good pitches to hit and shortened his swing a little bit," Wathan said. "He's been more aggressive when he gets ahead in the count. It doesn't take much for him to get his confidence back — I don't think he ever lost it. He had a couple good games when he came back and he's run from there."