Aug. 26: The Nationals have formally selected Crews’ contract, per a team announcement. Their 40-man roster is now at capacity.
Aug. 25: The Nationals announced that they have optioned catcher Riley Adams to Triple-A, making room for Crews to join the active roster tomorrow.
Aug. 23: The Nationals are planning to promote prospect Dylan Crews, reports Grant Paulsen of MLB Network Radio on X. Crews will be making his major league debut when the Nats host the Yankees on Monday. The young outfielder is not currently on the club’s 40-man roster but they already have a vacancy there. Unless they use that roster spot over the weekend, only a corresponding active roster move will be necessary.
Crews, now 22, was selected with the second overall pick in last year’s draft, after his Louisiana State teammate Paul Skenes was taken first by the Pirates. Crews put up huge numbers at the plate throughout his college career and carried that over into his professional career. After drafting him last summer, the Nats got his feet wet with some time at the Complex League level, Single-A and Double-A. He slashed .292/.377/.467 in 159 plate appearances for a wRC+ of 135.
Coming into 2024, Crews was already considered one of the top ten prospects in the sport and he has continued to justify that status here in 2024. The Nats started him at Double-A and he got into 51 games at that level this year. He slashed .274/.343/.446 for a 122 wRC+ while also stealing 15 bases. He was then promoted to Triple-A and has played in 48 games at that level, producing a line of .271/.343/.464 and a 108 wRC+ while swiping another 10 bags.
In addition to that strong work at the plate and on the basepaths, Crews is considered a strong defender who could stick in center field for the long term. The Nats have given him a bit of time in the corners but have mostly had him up the middle, and will likely view him as a fit there for the future.
With his ability to contribute in all facets of the game, he is unanimously viewed as one of the best prospects in the sport at the moment. Baseball America currently lists him fourth overall, though fellow Nat James Wood is listed #1 and has since graduated from prospect status, effectively putting Crews in the #3 spot. The other two guys ahead of Crews are already in the majors: Jackson Holliday of the Orioles and Junior Caminero of the Rays. FanGraphs has Crews at #6, with MLB Pipeline at #3, ESPN at #12 and Keith Law of The Athletic at #7.
The Nats have been in rebuilding mode for a few years and have been gradually building a core of young and controllable talent. In addition to the aforementioned Wood, they have shortstop CJ Abrams, pitcher MacKenzie Gore and others. Their record is 58-70 this year, well out of contention, so they can focus on playing young players and getting them acclimated to the big leagues.
It’s likely not a coincidence that Crews is being promoted at this part of the calendar, as the Nats should be able to keep his rookie status intact for 2025. To lose rookie status, a position player needs to either spend 45 days on an active roster or log 130 at-bats. There are now less than 45 days left in the 2024 season, so the Nats will undoubtedly manage his playing time in such a way that he doesn’t get to that 130 at-bat threshold.
That is significant due to the prospect promotion incentive. In an attempt to mitigate service time manipulation, the collective bargaining agreement allows clubs the chance to earn an extra draft pick if they promote a top prospect for a full season and that player goes on to win Rookie of the Year or meet other awards voting criteria. By keeping Crews a rookie for 2025, the Nats will have a chance to reap that reward if he ends up sticking on their roster for all of next year.
For now, it will be interesting to see how the Nats deploy Crews in the outfield. As mentioned, Crews is considered a capable defender in center but has seen some time in the corners. The Nats currently have Jacob Young, one of the best defensive center fielders in the league. Young has hit just .248/.308/.318 this year for a 79 wRC+ but he has 13 Defensive Runs Saved and 18 Outs Above Average. That OAA total is tops among all fielders at all positions this year, while the DRS mark is third among center fielders behind Jarren Duran and Daulton Varsho.
Perhaps the club will have Wood in left, Young in center and Crews in right, though they could also have Alex Call in right and bump Young down to fourth outfielder status. Call is slashing .347/.429/.531 this year in his 112 plate appearances.
Regardless of how they disperse the playing time, it’s yet another promotion that is part of the Nats putting together a young group they can build around. As they push towards opening a new competitive window, their payroll slate is fairly clean. With the Patrick Corbin contract off the books after this season, their two notable commitments will be for catcher Keibert Ruiz and retired star Stephen Strasburg. Perhaps that will make them an interesting player in the upcoming offseason, though that might depend on how their young players perform in the remainder of the schedule.
Dylan crews and James wood gonna bat 2nd and 3rd for a long time
Will the Nats win a championship if their payroll gets high again and the lerners spend?
He had an .800 OPS in the minors and now he’s going to lead the Nats to the World Series. I think you got on the hype train on this one.
I’m not waiting I’m making reservations for Cooperstown in 25 years to see this guy get inducted.
Yes the Lerners will spend after the last payment to all the deferred contracts they owe
They were deferring before deferring became cool.
Spending doesn’t equal winning. If the rays can make the playoffs just about every year with the lowest payroll the nationals will be fine. Playoffs are a crapshoot.
Wonder if he will get to face Skenes?
Ever?
The pirates and Nats play a 4 game series sept. 5-8 so there’s a solid chance
And go 0-3 with 3k’s?
salty you fell out of a playoff spot?
Huh? Because Paul Skenes is drastically better than this guy? Not sure why one has to do with the other.
So Mets6986, please explain your reasoning in how the #1 OVERALL pick in LAST YEAR’S DRAFT (who is a SP) “is drastically better” than the #2 OVERALL pick (who plays CF) in LAST YEAR’S DRAFT. They’re 2 completely different different players playing completely different positions.
Skenes is a dominant player and is arguably the best pitcher in baseball already.Crews is not a dominant player in the minors and will struggle in the majors. A .800 OPS in the minors isn’t screaming superstar player. I really don’t care where a player was drafted. Ultimately that means nothing besides the money they get for signing. Often times a better players are passed in the MLB draft so a MLB teams can under pay them and pay lower round picks more money. Very rarely is the best player in any draft ever drafted in the top of the draft.
Gotta love a paranoid Mets fans.::
Skenes TJ is inevitable btw
U can’t be serious!!!
No it’s not. That’s screwed up to wish on someone.
No it’s not because of his build and sound mechanics. And if he does it probably won’t be till many years down the road.
You’re saying this simply cause he throws hard.
A little salty.
Woot woot!
Thankfully, after the ATL series.
Why Atlanta pitching would eat him up?
I’d rather take my chances with his replacement. Rather not be on the wrong end of a highlight reel/memory.
Alex Call has a .959 OPS. I would take my chances with Crews.
And now we know why…Call on IL.
Good luck, DC. Geaux Tigers.
Imagine if new Ownership forked over the money to bring Soto back
Wood, Crews and Soto in OF
I would like to see some of these countless examples.
That’s my dream. And Max making a last hurrah as mentor to the young pitchers!
I’d love to see that happen. That outfield would be great for years and if they are smart with their money and sign a good FA pitcher (please not another bad deal like Patrick Corbin), I’d argue they’d be a legitimate threat in the NL.
Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,
What is up with people throwing “muted” in their comment like they are dropping the mic? The original comment was so innocuous and he wasn’t even saying it would be the best in baseball just exciting.
People are insensitive little soy boys these days shouldn’t even be allowed to mute someone without posting your real life address. People who mute me need to be able to see what I write to them on a daily basis if I so choose to educate them.
20yr/ 1 bil contract would love to see it happen for you.
Everyone needs to mute MickeyTheJerkTroll. Mute him before he mutes you. He contributes nothing positive to anything.
It’s just that filihok or cbeisbol guy (they’re the same person) but both of those accounts probably got banned and this one is next
Well, he said it was his nap time. Thus, he’s either 90 years old or 3.
“90 years old or 3″…I’m putting all my money on “3”.
Rumor has it he’s already on double secret mute-bation.
That obviously isn’t the real cbeisbol guy. Parody guy. Cbeisbol Is an admitted communist that hates every conservative in the world
You just said a political word! Muted you hurt my eyes I’m suing!!!
I wonder if anyone actually gets hurt enough to mute someone instead of doing it jokingly
I wonder if he will pull a Langford and hit like crap after all the hype. His minor stats aren’t screaming anything special.
Thursday night Crews faced Mick Abel pitching for Lehigh and although the Rochester lineup abused Lehigh’s pitching on the whole, Crews had quite a bit of trouble with Abel’s high 90s fastball. If that shows in the early scouting reports he will have every pitcher working him over with four-seamers up in the zone. No doubt Crews has serious talent but being unable to handle fastballs could pose quite a problem in the Majors.
Alec Burleson was the same with the high heat thrown at the top of the strike zone, but he made an adjustment and he is now one of the better hitters in the NL…
True, but it took Burleson a while to get that ironed out. I’m not suggesting Crews won’t or can’t make the adjustment. I’m just saying folks shouldn’t expect immediate success if that high fastball problem persists. It might actually benefit Crews to come up now, see the hard stuff and make adjustments to his swing over the winter to come out strong in 2025.
The future is looking very bright for the Nationals. Best part is that when it’s time to spend, they will spend, well at least in previous years they have done so.
Rather have max Clark or Kevin m
If they bat him 9th and only start him 5 days a week, he won’t get to 130PA. It will be good experience for him to give him things to work on this winter. If he struggles next year they can always send him back to AAA for six weeks and save the service time.
If they were a team in contention this year this would make more sense. Sure, Crews maintains his rookie status to start next season. But doesn’t it accelerate his time to free agency to call him up now? Maybe they’re about to announce a long term contract agreement?
So weird that Corbin hasn’t been cut. Must be excruciating for Nats fans each time he takes the mound
He has been dominant lately
Bruh
He’s not very good but at least he stayed healthy and they can count on him to pitch every fifth day. Sure as heck isn’t worth 30m but more than guys like Bryant and Rendon can offer.
You lack ball knowledge
Take Corbin as a fifth SP and the Nats don’t have a replacement for him. When Cavalli is ready to pitch, I can see Corbin being cut.
It is unlikely Cavalli pitches this year.
I was having an impression that Cavalli or Williams might return and pitch 1-2 games. In that case, Corbin seems to be the odd man out, moved to the pen or being cut.
Why would he be cut with a month to go on his contract?
Perhaps move him to the bullpen. I mean if Nats would like to take a look at a young arm, there is no need to keep Corbin pitching.
Seems like they could have waited a bit longer to do this. I really like what the Nationals have done the last couple years but this doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me.
Exciting times for Nats fans! Many of us have been looking forward to having both Wood and Crews in the outfield for a while.
The Nats Minor League Coordinators must believe Crews has the skill set to complete now at the MLB level. You can never be too late promoting a young hitter. For the past 25 years or so, AA has been home for most organization’s top prospects. I’ve always believed a player needed a full season of AA to strengthen their overall game. I wouldn’t have rushed this kid and taken such risks.
Gives Crews some MLB experience, and that only helps him moving forward. If he struggles he’ll know what to work on during the offseason to prepare for 2025. A good call promoting him.
Here’s a thought.. they’re calling him up Monday against the Yanks in Soto’s first game in DC this year. Coincidence? Seems like they’re trying to generate some hype for his return and show him what his future could look like
Exactly my thoughts…
The Patrick Corbin contract disaster is a lesson the Yankees fans need to learn but won’t
They pissed and moaned when the Yanks would not give him a stupid contract
Look how that turned out
Imagine and DJLM on the Yankees this year
Oh yea
Nats won a WS with him dolt
It’s a cool time to be a Lake Mary High School alumn! Crews to The Show and Lake Mary in the LLWS USA Final! Now only if Brendan Rodgers can get it together.
Welcome to the bigs, young man! Hopefully you will have success like Skenes.
Hope he becomes a stud.
Rather have max Clark.
He’s been playing everyday and seems up be in danger zone for the 130 AB threshold. Would be nice to see them mix in just a few rest days here and there.