The Philadelphia Phillies didn’t make too many changes to the roster from the 2025 season. Harrison Bader, Matt Strahm, Nick Castellanos, and Ranger Suarez are all gone.
Brad Keller, Adolis Garcia, and Andrew Painter are set to replace Strahm, Castellanos, and Suarez, respectively. While those players will have a big impact in 2026, the Phillies’ replacement for Bader in center field is the more impactful switch.
Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller identified the new center fielder, Justin Crawford, son of MLB All-Star Carl Crawford, as the Phillies’ “X-factor” in 2026. Crawford will have a big role for the Phillies, as his production could be a huge boon for Philadelphia.
Justin Crawford named Phillies ‘X-Factor’
“Like the Mets with (Carson) Benge, the Phillies are probably going to be handing a starting outfielder job to a prospect who has yet to make his MLB debut,” Miller writes. “… But if he struggles and it’s up to Brandon Marsh, Adolis Garcia, and, I suppose, Otto Kemp… to carry this offense? Insert ‘Michael Scott’s brave fave grimace’ gif here.”
Crawford, being fully trusted to take over the starting center field job on Opening Day and throughout the whole season, will be a huge risk.
That’s why he’s the Phillies’ “X-factor” according to Miller. Crawford’s production in 2026 will have a big impact on the Phillies’ success.
If he’s great right off the bat, then the Phillies will have a fantastic, speedy, contact-first center fielder who’s a solid fielder for the foreseeable future.
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But if he struggles enough that the Phillies need to pivot to a different center fielder, likely Brandon Marsh, this would be a massive hindrance to their postseason chances.
Last year in Triple-A, Crawford hit .334 with an .863 OPS. He’s not a power hitter, but with his great speed and bat-to-ball skills, he’s more than capable of providing quality at-bats for the Phillies in 2026.
While the Phillies will only go as far as Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper can go, someone like Crawford having a great season, taking some of the pressure off the rest of the lineup, would be massive for the Phillies’ chances to win a World Series.
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