KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Aug. 11, 2025)- Dylan Crews, after playing full nine-inning games on consecutive days for Triple-A Rochester, will continue his minor league rehab assignment for now. The Nationals announced that Crews will remain with the Red Wings, who have a day off today, and is scheduled to play outfield again Tuesday and Wednesday in Rochester against Syracuse.
Dylan Crews Triple-A Rehab Stats — Game-by-Game Performance Review
These upcoming games will be Crews’ 12th and 13th appearances during this rehab stint — longer than most injured major league position players typically need. The Nationals want the 23-year-old to show not only that he’s healthy, but also that he’s producing consistently at the plate before activating him from the 60-day injured list.
Dylan Crews has been sidelined since May 20 with a left oblique strain from a check-swing. He began rehab with Rochester on July 29, gradually increasing his workload until he could handle back-to-back full nine-inning games. That milestone was reached this past weekend, with Crews starting in right field both Saturday and Sunday at Norfolk.
At the plate, Crews has gone 10-for-36 (.278) with a double, two home runs, seven RBIs, one walk, and six strikeouts in 11 games. Interim manager Miguel Cairo explained that while Crews’ body “is holding up good,” the team is focusing on his ability to get his swing rhythm back. He emphasized that “the most important is the timing, getting the timing with the pitcher, feeling good about recovering,” and noted that before making the next decision, the coaching staff would check in with Rochester manager Matt LeCroy and hitting coach Brian Daubach about how Crews feels after each game.
Nationals Outfield Depth Chart: James Wood, Jacob Young, Daylen Lile, Robert Hassell III
Keeping Crews in Triple-A also delays a difficult roster decision: choosing which of the four young outfielders on the big-league roster will lose a spot when he returns. James Wood is safe, which leaves Jacob Young (.563 OPS but excellent defense), Daylen Lile (.687 OPS with -11 Defensive Runs Saved), and Robert Hassell III (7-for-18 with four doubles, a home run, and five RBIs) competing for playing time.
the most important is the timing, getting the timing with the pitcher, feeling good about recovering
Cairo has been managing this logjam carefully. Hassell, for instance, didn’t play in San Francisco over the weekend because of the spacious outfield at Oracle Park, but Cairo confirmed he will be back in the lineup against Kansas City. “We’ve got two right-handers coming up Tuesday and Wednesday, so of course he’s going to be playing,” Cairo said, adding that the coaching staff “will find a way to put him in there and get him some at-bats” while still rewarding the players who performed well in recent wins.
Josiah Gray Tommy John Surgery Recovery: Bullpen Sessions Continue
Meanwhile, Josiah Gray continues to throw bullpen sessions in West Palm Beach but has not yet faced live hitters. The right-hander underwent Tommy John surgery and an internal brace procedure on July 24, 2024, and has now reached the one-year recovery mark. He hopes to make a few big league starts before the season’s end. Still, Cairo noted that this situation is “a little more delicate, because he had Tommy John” and the team wants to ensure he is completely healthy before introducing the stress of live batting. Despite the careful approach, Cairo confirmed that to his knowledge, Gray has not experienced any setbacks in his progression.