There were low expectations for Dylan Crews‘ second MLB game because he had to face the reigning Cy Young pitcher, Gerrit Cole, in a tough righty-righty matchup. But it turned out that Crews was ready for Cole’s cutter in his first at-bat and smashed it 370 feet off of the wall in front of the visitor’s bullpen for a long double. The exit velo was 104.4 mph but the launch angle was 21 degrees. That would have been a home run in several ballparks — but not Nats Park. That double would mark Crews’ first MLB hit and put him in the record books for the first Nats’ player to ever record his first hit as an extra-base hit off of a Cy Young pitcher.
“It felt great to get that first [hit] out of the way — and kind of sit back — and breathe a little bit, take it all in, it was an awesome moment.”
— Crews said after the game
In the sixth inning, Crews dribbled a swinging bunt into a hustle single in the sixth inning showing off his 85th percentile speed. Quickly, Crews recorded his first stolen base, that showcased his speed tool, even more. Maybe the idea of stealing was not the best decision, with a lefty batting and a clear lane to throw him out — but Crews got his hand onto third base before the tag was applied on him.
As far as flashing tools, Crews showed off his speed once again along with athleticism and defense when he chased down a foul ball in the 9th inning for the crucial second out in a tight 4-2 game. After the catch, he fired the ball back into the infield to keep the runner at second base from advancing. The game ended on Crews sprinting back to the warning track for the final out of the game on a Gleyber Torres flyball that was smashed 351 feet. A fitting end to what the Nationals and their fans hope is a constant with Crews flashing all five of his tools.
“This organization definitely fits into my approach as far as aggressiveness,” Crews said. “We’re an aggressive team, we want to steal bases, turn a single into a double, whatever it is. I think it’s awesome to see how it transitions into my game.”
As long as Crews exhibits “smart” aggressiveness, he will be fine. That stolen base at third base was risky, even though it worked out. Pick your spots and go. Outs on the base paths has plagued this team with the worst numbers in baseball.
Certainly you want Crews to make things happen in the right situations. With two games in the books, everything so far is in a miniscule sample size. From his debut on Monday, the most he will get this season is 31-games at the big league level in the sample size.
“A good start for [Crews], and what is hopefully a long, illustrious career. He handled all the hoopla well. It’s not easy to start your career with Juan Soto in the house, and the Yankees throwing a Cy Young winner at you. It was a tough challenge.”
— Nats’ general manager Mike Rizzo said during his weekly appearance Wednesday with 106.7 The Fan’s The Sports Junkies
“I would describe [Crews] as a very warm and welcoming but positive person, with a confident swagger to him. He’s not over the top, it’s not all ‘me, me, me.’ He really embraces the team concept and feels most comfortable in the clubhouse. He’s going to fit in wonderfully with this good young group pf guys that kind of cut their teeth together in the Minors, and are trying to transcend into the core of the big league club.”
Remember, the Nats will also be monitoring Crews’ at-bats once he starts getting close to the rookie/prospect line of demarcation at 130 ABs. The Nats must make sure he stays below that level. The math is rather easy. Keep him at an average 4.19 at-bats per game, and Crews will retain his prospect status going into next season and be eligible for the PPI for his team.
What’s next for Crews? Obviously his first big league homer has to be high on his list. Maybe a highlight reel Web Gem and an outfield assist? Everything in due time. Play the game the right way, and you will achieve much. We know Crews has the tools to be a great one.
Think back to February when the team created “Hope Row” in the clubhouse at their Spring Training facility at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches. With lockers for the top prospects set up next to each other for Crews, James Wood, Brady House, and Robert Hassell III, this close group of prospects also all played together last year at Double-A Harrisburg. With Wood and Crews up now, you get the sense that with September 1 just four days away that we could see House too. Could, but will we? With Jose Tena showing so well in his first two weeks, there might not be the urgency to push House up now. Tena already has a +0.3 WAR and is playing well ahead of projections.
“Obviously, we’ve got a young lineup right now. It just shows how we can all impact the game. We’re all playing really hard right now, and we want to win.”
— Crews said after the game
Looking at the rookie WAR on this team, you get a nice glimpse into the seven active rookie position players. The team lead goes to Jacob Young at +2.6, and that gives the Nats a solid outfield for the future, and especially considering what Alex Call did on the field, before his plantar fascia tear in his left foot last week.
What we don’t know is if there is a chance that Call can make it back this season. We also don’t know if general manager Mike Rizzo will want Wood, for example, to work in the offseason at first base. These are good problems when you have too many good players. With Young leading all players in the Majors in OAA (Statcast defensive metric), you have to think that Young will remain as the team’s center fielder. What happens from here also depends on what happens the rest of the season and into free agency.
“We’re trying to contend again. It’s going to happen. With this core group, it’s going to happen. We’re heading in the right direction. … The next step is that I don’t want to be ‘close’ anymore — I want to be there.”
— manager Dave Martinez said on Tuesday
Rebuilds are tough to play through. To contend, that feels closer with the arrival of Crews. In business, they call this transformation through continuous process improvement. Rizzo said you, “Can see the light at the end of the tunnel.” From the second stanza of the poem “Casey at the Bat” by Ernest Thayer, he wrote, “that hope which springs eternal.” Well said Mr. Thayer, and hope was the key word in “Hope Row” that now feels like a well-traveled road. That hope is turning into a reality.
