The Washington Nationals are promoting second-overall pick Dylan Crews to Double-AA Harrisburg after 62 at-bats in Single-A Fredericksburg, according to ESPN’s Buster Olney.
The 21-year-old is MLB Pipleline’s No.4 prospect in all of baseball, and the Nationals’ No.1 prospect. The former first-round pick played in just 14 games with Single-A Fredericksburg, recording 22 hits, 24 RBIs, and five homers. Crews slashed .385/.446/.677 in his 15 game minor league career so far, with a 1.123 OPS. However, keep in mind the competition is similar to top-tier SEC teams and sometimes below that quality. Crews was promoted to Fredericksburg after a strong debut with the Rookie-level Flordia Complex League. To make room for Crews, former seventh-round pick Jacob Young will head to Triple-A Rochester per reports.
With Crews headed to Double-A, the Harrisburg outfield could showcase James Wood (No.2 Nationals prospect), Robert Hassell III (No.8), and Crews (No.1) along with third-basemen Brady House. In addition, Crews, House and Wood might be in D.C. at different points in time next season.
After a miserable 55-win season last year, the Nationals have shifted to a more fundamental baseball team. The farm system has developed, and with another good draft in the books with general manager Mike Rizzo, it shouldn’t be too long until the Nats are back to competing for a World Seris championship, and at least that is what Crews said his goal is for his team.
Meanwhile, the Nationals also reportedly promoted infielder Yohandy Morales and outfielder Andrew Pinckney. Both 2023 draftees will head to High-A Wilmington, where they are set to make their debuts Tuesday. Morales was the National’s second-round pick, hitting nine doubles, two triples, and 14 RBIs while hitting .375 in 17 games. Pinckney was drafted in the fourth round and hit .338 with three homers and 15 RBIs in 16 games in Low-A.
Dylan Crews was turning heads in high school, but when COVID-19 hit, Crews decided to withdraw from the draft and play another season at LSU. It was the right decision, as LSU was crowned with a D1 college championship in June of 2023. Crews is the first player in SEC history to win a Player of the Year award in consecutive seasons. In his first season with LSU, occurring in 2021, Crews earned National Freshman of the Year, led the SEC in total bases (163), and was third in on-base percentage (.453).
The Nationals minor league affiliates all have a day-off Monday, so all three players should make their respective debuts on Tuesday.
