J.P. Crawford received a text message last month as his off-season continued in Southern California. It was from Gabe Kapler, the new Phillies manager, and he wanted to have dinner with Crawford. The two met in Long Beach, and Kapler began to make his impressions on the team’s young core.
Kapler dined last week in Philadelphia with Rhys Hoskins and plans to meet with more players before spring training begins. The manager said he was “blown away.” So, too, was Crawford.
“First thing he asked was what do we need, like the players in the clubhouse,” Crawford said.