Player Profile: Outfielder Dylan Crews
The 2023 second pick of the MLB Draft is already making a statement in the Nationals Minor League system, could we see him in the majors soon?
Editors Note: This is the latest in my player profile series that I have started here at the Nats Report. Read other prospect player profiles:
Dylan Crews
- Position: Outfield
- Current status: Double-A Harrisburg Senators. On July 21, 2023, Crews signed with the Nationals for a $9 million signing bonus.
- How acquired: selected by the Washington Nationals with the 2nd overall pick draft 2023
- Quotable: “It’s how you take it. Growing up I always played up, I was 2020 playing in the 2019 class, so expectations weren’t really a thing of mine and the transition seemed pretty easy as I got to LSU and I feel like the transition is going to be pretty easy as I go and play for the Nationals.” - Dylan Crews to reporters after being drafted by the Nationals.
- 2023 Grade: A
- 2024 Opening Day Projection: Double-A Harrisburg Senators
2023 Analysis
The Washington Nationals made a significant move by selecting Crews, a 21-year-old talent from LSU, with the second overall pick in the most recent draft. His addition enriched their already impressive minor league outfield lineup with the top batting prospect of the year.
On August 4, 2023, Dylan Crews made his debut in the Florida Complex League, where he went 3-for-3. After a remarkable performance, he earned a promotion to the Class-A Fredericksburg Nationals on August 20, 2023, having posted an outstanding .355/.423/.645 batting line with the FredNats.
In the 2023 season, Crews completed his campaign with the Double-A Harrisburg Senators. Over the course of 20 games and 85 plate appearances, he maintained a batting average of .208, recorded 5 RBIs, and secured 15 hits, concluding the season with a .595 OPS.
2024 outlook
Looking ahead to 2024, Crews, the 2nd overall pick in the latest MLB draft, is poised to start at least in Harrisburg, and there's a strong possibility of a quick promotion to Triple-A, potentially before July.
The future appears limitless for Crews, who is rapidly becoming, or will become, a cornerstone of the Washington Nationals' roster, despite the presence of other top-tier outfield prospects. The pace of his ascent to the majors will hinge on his ability to excel, or at least perform competently at the Triple-A level.
Personally, I hold high hopes for Crews to make his MLB debut after the rosters expand in September 2024, and even potentially on Opening Day 2025, which is an achievable milestone.2024, if not Opening Day 2025, which should be something that he can achieve.
