Future of Phillies Shines in Both Wins Over Nationals
Apr 1, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Justin Crawford (2) is doused with water after his walk off game winning RBI single during the tenth inning against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
After a late-game comeback against the Washington Nationals for the Philadelphia Phillies set them up to win their first series of the season on Wednesday afternoon, the heroes of both wins turn out to be young prospects beginning their careers in the majors this year. Both pitcher Andrew Painter and outfielder Justin Crawford did their part to push this Phillies team over the edge against a red-hot Nationals team. Whether it was command of the ball or consistent hitting, both of these young players give hope for the Phillies, especially after a rough stretch.
After starting from Jesus Luzardo, Aaron Nola, and Taijuan Walker did not go as planned, the fate of the city was in the hands of Painter in hopes that he would throw a solid game, at least to limit the Nationals’ lineup as much as possible. Not only did he limit the damage, but he exceeded some expectations: in 5.1 innings pitched, Painter gave up only one earned run (scored after he came out), walked one man, and struck out eight batters in his MLB debut, including the first batter he faced. Painter threw a solid 57 strikes out of 84 pitches, which cannot be overlooked in today’s game.
Yes, this outing means a lot to him and his family, as he had gotten Tommy John surgery in July of 2023, meaning no one knew what would happen from that point on. Still, this outing means a lot to the Phillies as well, as Painter has turned out to be a massive beam of hope for this pitching staff, especially without the arm of Zack Wheeler.
“I think he just looked impressive [Tuesday], it was awesome,” Adolis Garcia said via interpreter Diego D’Aniello. “He has great stuff, and looked like a star.”
The night before Painter’s debut, Walker went 4.2 innings and gave up six earned runs on 10 hits, with just one pitch shy of 100 pitches (that’s nearly 20 pitches an inning). The day before that was too, a disappointing outing, as the newly extended Luzardo went six innings, but gave up six runs, including two home runs. He, too, was one pitch shy of 100 pitches. With that being said, the pressure on Painter only added to the nerves the 22-year-old was facing before making his debut. Even with the pressure, Painter showed up and looked as he had debuted years ago. Painter’s fastball has upside potential, and his break adds to a beautiful combo this team needs.
“He didn’t seem phased by anything out there; that was pretty cool,” Kyle Schwarber said after the game. “Even before the game, there’s no pacing, nothing… it just felt like he was mentally prepared for what he was about to go do, and I think that’s impressive. I remember, everyone remembers their big league debut and how everyone feels, and you feel like you want to go out and reach for the stars. I just felt like he stayed within himself that whole game.”
On the other side stands the 22-year-old outfielder, who in just his fifth major league game has already impressed. If his first two at-bats ending in hits and his elite speed and defense weren’t enough, then Wednesday’s game and this past series have got to seal the deal on Crawford.
In Painter’s debut, Crawford got a hit in his three at-bats and scored a run, which was ultimately needed in the 3-2 win. That is a good performance in the MLB, but Wednesday’s walkoff win was definitely his best game of the five. In five at-bats, Crawford got a hit in three of them. One double, one single, and one unforgettable first career walk-off win that ended the successful Phillies comeback.
“Just staying within myself, trying to get a ball up and try to put a swing on it,” Crawford said postgame. “It’s definitely something I’ll remember for a very long time.”
With the subtractions of Max Kepler and Nick Castellanos this past offseason, Phillies outfielder Brandon Marsh was going to see a lot more action in left field, meaning the Phillies needed a centerfielder after the suspension of Johan Rojas. Though Crawford was expected to play in the big leagues this year, no one would have expected the start he is having, as he is hitting for an average of .412, the highest on the team.
It’s extremely difficult to find a centerfielder who can both hit and defend in the field, but Crawford has been nothing short of that caliber. Crawford had an important role to fill, and he has been filling it to the fullest. His teammates support him. It was seen once he knocked in the winning run, and the bench poured out to celebrate around him.
“Special,” Crawford said. “Really cool to see how the boys had my back there and see them all running out. Just a really, really special moment.”
With more young guys on the way, such as infielder Aidan Miller and right-hander Gage Wood, there is a lot to look forward to regarding the prospects, after the two up right now have exceeded their expectations. Both Crawford and Painter have earned themselves more time and more opportunities to come in the near future for this team, as they hope to only get better.
Luke Raidy
Luke has covering the the Flyers and Phillies for Philly Sports Reports since 2025. He is a junior at North Penn and being a huge Philly sports fan has brought so many experiences, such as going to the NLDS, NLCS, and even the World Series in 2022. He has also met former superstars in the city of Philadelphia, such as Wayne Simmonds from the Flyers. Though being a student-athlete, Luke enjoys his time where he is writing and reporting on Philadelphia sports.
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