Let's Geaux: Dylan Crews

[IanRubbish]

Looking forward to see whether his BB rate stays high and whether his K rate can be <20%.

I consider this rest of the season for him a break in period, similar to how Wood went two weeks without walking.  He could be OPS'ing in the low to mid 6's and that's fine for this pre-rookie year.

[Slateman]

Hitting 2nd where he belongs.

Y'all tired of quick innings? Crews and Wood will do a lot to alleviate that.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Hitting 2nd where he belongs.

Y'all tired of quick innings? Crews and Wood will do a lot to alleviate that.

[varoadking]

I predict two hits for him tonight, let's go!!

He'll be way ahead of the game if he simply doesn't do another faceplant while running out an infield groundout in his first at bat...

[GataNats]

Vargas playing over Garcia is absolute ridiculous

[IanRubbish]

Vargas playing over Garcia is absolute ridiculous

Davey like to overmanage lefty/righty matchups, with little regard for the impact on the defense

[Mattionals]

Davey like to overmanage lefty/righty matchups, with little regard for the impact on the defense

Uhhh, Garcia has a .638 OPS against Southpaw's this year and Vargas has a .708. I'd say Vargas clearly gives you a better chance to win tonight.

[Slateman]

Eh, it doesnt bother me, but I wouldnt mind letting Garcia get experience against LHP at this point. Lets see if his improvement can carry over.

[Mattionals]

Eh, it doesnt bother me, but I wouldnt mind letting Garcia get experience against LHP at this point. Lets see if his improvement can carry over.

It's kinda weird how things have shifted. The Phillies have Marsh stuff all over their park. He is loved by the fans. He is a platoon player now. It's almost like that second tier of "stars" on the team don't need to be everyday players anymore.

[Smithian]

Eh, it doesnt bother me, but I wouldnt mind letting Garcia get experience against LHP at this point. Lets see if his improvement can carry over.

Mindfact, but it seems he hits better against RHP when platooning.

Luis Garcia has shown he can be a positive player on the long side of a platoon. Garcia is who he is, and lucky for Nats it isn't hard to find a righty utility player to play short side of a platoon and move around on other days.

[Slateman]

Mindfact, but it seems he hits better against RHP when platooning.

Luis Garcia has shown he can be a positive player on the long side of a platoon. Garcia is who he is, and lucky for Nats it isn't hard to find a righty utility player to play short side of a platoon and move around on other days.

He is hitting better because he is facing fewer lefties. But its also because he has revamped his approach. I want to see if he can keep that approach against LHP.

[Slateman]

It's kinda weird how things have shifted. The Phillies have Marsh stuff all over their park. He is loved by the fans. He is a platoon player now. It's almost like that second tier of "stars" on the team don't need to be everyday players anymore.

With a universal DH, I think we will see a lot more multi-position and platoon options.

[welch]

Baseball America on Dylan Crews as a major leaguer

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/dylan-crews-debut-expectations-for-top-nationals-prospect/

What Does The Analytical Data Say About Crews?

In many ways, Crews isn’t terribly different from the hitter we watched at LSU for three outstanding seasons. When comparing his exit velocity data year over year, there’s been no substantial drop-off in where he ranks in terms of percentiles. Crews’ 109.7 mph 90th percentile exit velocity with LSU in 2023 ranked at the 99th percentile of NCAA Division I hitters. In 2024, Crews 106.2 mph 90th percentile EV ranks in the 95th percentile among MiLB hitters.

While this is a drop-off, it’s hardly noticeable when you consider the older and more talented hitter pool across all levels of the minor leagues. The 3.5 mph drop is also anticipated when moving from a metal bat to the standard wood bat in the professional game. Crews’ max exit velocity in 2024 is actually up from his 2023 max EV with LSU. In 2023, Crews max EV of 112.8 mph ranked in the 91st percentile among college hitters, while his 113.8 mph ranks in the 97th percentile this season.

And

Looking at other numbers, his zone-miss rate is nearly identical with only a .5% drop between 2023 and 2024. While Crews has actually improved his flyball rate and airpull% (percentage of fly balls pulled), his launch angle is steeper and his groundball rate is lower as a professional. Crews was criticized for his higher ground ball rate and lack of pull-side pop entering pro ball. He has made some adjustments to improve that.

Yet

That so far has come with a tradeoff of a much more aggressive approach. Known for his discerning eye, and elite on-base ability, Crews has seen his walk rate drop from 20.6% in 2023 at LSU to 8% across all levels in 2024 as a pro.

Crews’ swing rate has jumped from 36.2% at LSU to a 49.5% swing rate as a professional in 2024. He was one of the most patient hitters in college baseball with a 2023 swing rate that ranked in the seventh percentile among D-I hitters. In pro ball this year, he ranks in the 75th percentile in swing rate.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

With a universal DH, I think we will see a lot more multi-position and platoon options.

multi-position used to be useful under the NL rules because you would want to be able to leave your PH for the pitcher in the game and slide the pitcher's slot around the order. As for platoons, there are only 3 bench spots with 9 hitters in the lineup and a backup catcher. You almost can't have somebody who is not multi-positional in one of those slots. It's an issue with Nunez, who they seem unwilling to try at 3rd.

As for the Nats, I like Call, but they probably could use a LH 4th OF. Alternatively, a LH who plays RF and some infield might work with Crews ability to play CF. We knock Vargas, but his switch hittting, contact skills, and multi-position has been an asset when he hasn't had to play too much.

[imref]

mlb tv's take on his debut: https://x.com/MLBNetwork/status/1828449642276888879

[welch]

Enough quibbling. I saw Harper from his rookie season until the end, and I'm one of the few here who saw Harmon Killebrew in his earliest years. Crews is fine. He has learned, grown, and hit through AA and AAA. He fields and runs. He is a ball-player.

(Explanation: Killebrew was signed at 17, and became a regular major leaguer when he was 23. He's in the Hall of Fame, and no Washington player since Harmon has cracked the doors of the Hall.)

[imref]

Per @EliasSports, Dylan Crews is the third National to record his first career hit off of a Cy Young Award winner. He joins Blake Treinen (off Clayton Kershaw) and Beltran Perez (off Tom Glavine).

[Smithian]

The Crews-Young-Wood OF can warm the coldest heart after this brutal half decade.

[OfftheBat]

I predict two hits for him tonight, let's go!!

Dang, I was almost right... just one game too early;)

[imref]

Camerato reports that Gavin Dugas and a few other Blue Rocks made the trip to Nats park on Monday to watch Crews.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Camerato reports that Gavin Dugas and a few other Blue Rocks made the trip to Nats park on Monday to watch Crews.

perfect for the minor leaguers with no games on Mondays.

[IanRubbish]

Davey has him all over the lineup, leading off today

[varoadking]

Davey has him all over the lineup, leading off today

I recall when he said just how it was important to keep players in the same spot...

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Who else would lead off with cj on the bench?

[imref]

This thread is going to challenge for longest on the board.