PHILLIES TOP prospect J.P. Crawford was pulled from Arizona Fall League action and won't return.
But it wasn't because he had a slow bat following a long regular season between Class A Clearwater and Double A Reading. It's because of an injury.
Crawford suffered a slight ligament tear in his left thumb. The 20-year-old shortstop said the injury will not require surgery. He is expected to be 100 percent healthy when spring training gets underway in Clearwater, Fla, in February.
The injury happened on Oct. 22, when Crawford's hand made contact with a baserunner on a stolen base attempt.