Few could have forecasted Dylan Crews’s big league beginnings.
While his college teammate Paul Skenes has scorched Major League Baseball from 60 feet, six inches, Crews has scuffled at the game’s highest level. In 116 games over two seasons with Washington, Crews was a .211 hitter with 102 strikeouts and 13 home runs.
When spring training became a mess in March, Crews was sent to Triple-A to begin the season. That’s a humbling assignment for the former second overall pick. And it didn’t go especially well. Crews hit .258 over 41 games with Rochester before being recalled.
He didn’t exactly hit the ground running with the Nationals, either. Crews started 12-for-66 (.181), but over the last two weeks things have gotten a little bit better. In nine games, the former Tiger is 8-for-35 (.228) with three homers and eight driven in. He’s got an RBI in seven of the nine.
dylan. crews. 442 ft. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/JFxZzF3rvY
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) June 20, 2026
He’s run the bases extremely well when on and can be counted on for excellent defense, too. Those two pieces are secondary. He was drafted to hit, and he hasn’t done that nearly to the level he’s expected.
Crews is fortunate that his teammates have swung the bat excellently. The Nationals lead Major League Baseball in scoring which means they can use his defense.
I’ve never seen a better hitter in purple and gold. In 2023, Crews reached base in every game LSU played. He posted a three-year on base percentage of nearly .500. He slugged, hit line drives and drew walks. That last piece is missing completely from his big league game. He’s drawn two walks in 106 plate appearances this year.
That puts his entire on base onus on hitting a bunch of 98 mph fastball and vicious breaking stuff. That’s a difficult way to make a living.
Being the No. 2 pick creates a longer leash. Crews has likely extended that nearly as far as it will go. Hopefully for him, the last two weeks are a catalyst for a strong second half of the season.
