Dylan Crews Stats & Scouting Report

AB	119
AVG	.218
OBP	.288
SLG	.353
HR	3

Full name Dylan Gray Crews
Born 02/26/2002 in Altamonte Springs, FL
Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 203 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Louisiana State
Drafted in the 1st round (2nd overall) by the Washington Nationals in 2023 (signed for $9,000,000).

View Draft Report

School: Louisiana State Source: 4YR

Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.4
BA Grade:65/High
Tools:Hit: 65. Power: 65. Run: 55. Field: 55. Arm: 60.

Crews was a highly-regarded prospect coming out of Lake Mary (Fla.) High, though he ultimately withdrew from the 2020 draft and made his way to Louisiana State, where he immediately became one of the best players in college baseball. He set an LSU record with 18 home runs as a freshman, then moved from right field to center field during his sophomore season and clubbed 22 more home runs and was named a Golden Spikes semifinalist. He won the award a year later and was one of the best hitters in the country in 2023, when he hit .426/.567/.713 with 18 home runs, 16 doubles, a 13.4% strikeout rate and a 20.6% walk rate, while being the focal point of an offense that won a College World Series championship against Florida. He either got a hit or drew a walk in every game of the season. Crews has a powerfully-built 6-foot, 205-pound frame and above-average or better tools across the board. He has electric, double-plus bat speed that allows him to drive the ball to all fields with authority, catch up to velocity and make late swing decisions, with great balance and strength in his lower half. After chasing a bit too much in high school, Crews has developed an advanced approach in college, with a solid eye and just a 17% chase rate in 2023. He also hits the ball harder than most players in the class, with a 96 mph average exit velocity and a 110 mph 90th percentile mark. A plus runner now, Crews should be at least above-average in the future if he slows down, and he’s a good center field defender with advanced route-running ability and instincts. He profiles as a plus defender in an outfield corner if he needs to move, with easy plus arm strength. He entered the year as the No. 1 player in the class and is the favorite to be selected first overall, with perennial all-star upside potential.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade/Risk:60/MediumTrack Record: In his first year at LSU in 2021, Crews set a program freshman record with 18 home runs. As a sophomore, he was Southeastern Conference player of the year. Crews repeated as POY as a junior, hitting .426/.567/.713 with 18 homers in 2023 and playing an integral role in the Tigers’ national championship. Crews and LSU teammate Paul Skenes made draft history as the first pair of teammates selected with the top two picks of the draft. As the second overall pick, Crews signed for $9 million, which was the second-highest bonus in draft history at the time. Crews reached Double-A Harrisburg in his first pro summer after being drafted. He began 2024 at the same level and earned a promotion to Triple-A Rochester after hitting .274/.343/.446 in 51 games. He boasted similar numbers in 49 games at Triple-A and earned his MLB callup on Aug. 26. After going hitless in his debut, Crews recorded hits in his next four games, including hitting two homers in that span. He struggled offensively to end the season, slashing just .218/.288/.353 while flashing a plus arm in right field.

Scouting Report: At 5-foot-11, 203 pounds, Crews is not an imposing figure. Rather, his top prospect status derives from his ability to get on base and his well-roundedness. So far in his young career, Crews has been streaky at the plate. When he’s hot, he is elevating balls and attacking pitchers. When he’s off, he tends to be more aggressive and show an elevated rate of in-zone miss. He has continued to show great plate discipline, and until his struggles in the majors, he had rarely chased outside of the strike zone. At each level, Crews has found his footing at the plate, and despite his early struggles, life in the majors figures to eventually be no different. In his first exposure to MLB pitchers, he struggled against sliders. He chased them out of the zone, with a miss rate of 42%. He didn’t get a hit against a slider in the majors, and only once in 82 pitches did he hit the ball out of the infield. In the outfield, Crews is a solid defender who makes plays look easy. He played a majority of center field in the minors but moved to right field after his callup to Washington. As long as Jacob Young is in center, Crews fits best in right field, where his range and plus arms are assets.

The Future: Crews finished the season in Washington playing alongside rookies James Wood and Jacob Young in the outfield, which gives the organization a taste of what the future core of the team could look like. Crews has all-star upside and should be a mainstay in the Nationals’ lineup for years to come. The 2024 season ended with Crews just a handful of at-bats away from officially graduating from prospect status.

Scouting Grades Hit: 65 | Power: 60 | Run: 70 | Fielding: 55 | Arm: 60
BA Grade: 70/High

Track Record: Despite being a highly touted prospect out of Lake Mary (Fla.) High, Crews decided to withdraw his name from the 2020 draft and instead took his talents to Baton Rouge. During his time with Louisiana State, he became one of the top players in college baseball. In 2021, Crews set an LSU freshman record with 18 home runs. The next year, he was named a Golden Spikes semifinalist before ultimately winning the award a year later. He was named Southeastern Conference player of the year in both 2022 and 2023. As a junior, he put up massive offensive numbers, hitting .426/.567/.713 with 18 home runs, 16 doubles, a 13.4% strikeout rate and a 20.6% walk rate. Crews was integral to LSU winning its first College World Series championship since 2009 and its seventh overall. He made history with teammate Paul Skenes, who was drafted No. 1 overall by the Pirates, as the first pair of teammates selected with the first two picks of the draft. The Nationals took Crews second overall and signed him for $9 million, which is the second-highest bonus in draft history. After a brief appearance in the Florida Complex League, he was promoted to Low-A Fredericksburg for 14 games, proving more than capable at the plate. Crews ended the season playing 20 games for Double-A Harrisburg. While he hit just .208 in the Eastern League, Crews finished his pro debut with a .292/.377/.467 line that included five home runs in 35 games.

Scouting Report: Crews ranked as the top prospect for the 2023 draft because of his well-rounded game that included plus hitting and on-base ability with power to match. While he is not physically imposing at 6 feet, 205 pounds, Crews boasts proven, above-average tools across the board. He has also shown the ability to make adjustments at the plate. Crews faced some swing-and-miss concerns before the draft, and he showed slightly elevated in-zone miss in his pro debut. He balances that by rarely going outside the zone and has strong plate discipline. Crews knows when to take his pitches and when he can be aggressive--hammering velocity when given the chance. Crews is a plus runner who projects to stick in center field. He is a solid defender and good route-runner. He has good instincts and makes routine plays look easy. Due to the depth in the Nationals system, Crews could face a move to an outfield corner, where his plus arm profiles.

The Future: The Nationals believe that Crews could be their next homegrown franchise position player, joining the ranks of Bryce Harper, Anthony Rendon and Juan Soto before him. He has perennial all-star upside potential and has already proven himself on a large stage. He has a chance to reach Washington sometime during the 2024 season and should be a mainstay in the lineup for years to come. n

Scouting Grades Hit: 65 | Power: 65 | Run: 55 | Field: 55 | Arm: 60

Draft Prospects

School: Louisiana State Source: 4YR

Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.4
BA Grade:65/High
Tools:Hit: 65. Power: 65. Run: 55. Field: 55. Arm: 60.

Crews was a highly-regarded prospect coming out of Lake Mary (Fla.) High, though he ultimately withdrew from the 2020 draft and made his way to Louisiana State, where he immediately became one of the best players in college baseball. He set an LSU record with 18 home runs as a freshman, then moved from right field to center field during his sophomore season and clubbed 22 more home runs and was named a Golden Spikes semifinalist. He won the award a year later and was one of the best hitters in the country in 2023, when he hit .426/.567/.713 with 18 home runs, 16 doubles, a 13.4% strikeout rate and a 20.6% walk rate, while being the focal point of an offense that won a College World Series championship against Florida. He either got a hit or drew a walk in every game of the season. Crews has a powerfully-built 6-foot, 205-pound frame and above-average or better tools across the board. He has electric, double-plus bat speed that allows him to drive the ball to all fields with authority, catch up to velocity and make late swing decisions, with great balance and strength in his lower half. After chasing a bit too much in high school, Crews has developed an advanced approach in college, with a solid eye and just a 17% chase rate in 2023. He also hits the ball harder than most players in the class, with a 96 mph average exit velocity and a 110 mph 90th percentile mark. A plus runner now, Crews should be at least above-average in the future if he slows down, and he’s a good center field defender with advanced route-running ability and instincts. He profiles as a plus defender in an outfield corner if he needs to move, with easy plus arm strength. He entered the year as the No. 1 player in the class and is the favorite to be selected first overall, with perennial all-star upside potential.

Top 100 Rankings

Career Transactions

Washington Nationals selected the contract of OF Dylan Crews from Rochester Red Wings.
OF Dylan Crews assigned to Rochester Red Wings from Harrisburg Senators.
Rochester Red Wings activated OF Dylan Crews.
OF Dylan Crews assigned to Fredericksburg Nationals from FCL Nationals.
OF Dylan Crews assigned to Fredericksburg Nationals from FCL Nationals.
OF Dylan Crews assigned to FCL Nationals.
Washington Nationals signed OF Dylan Crews.