Let's Geaux: Dylan Crews

[imref]

https://www.mlb.com/news/dylan-crews-does-it-all-in-nationals-win-over-mariners

[varoadking]

Knew he was a good base runner but dang that took balls today.

Charlie and Dave credited the third base coach for sending him...

[Slateman]

Charlie and Dave credited the third base coach for sending him...

C&D gave Crews credit for running efficiently and a terrific swim move at home plate. The manager echoed this praise.

[IdahoNat]

Charlie and Dave credited the third base coach for sending him...

Ok bud...

[varoadking]

Ok bud...

Fellas...if you didn't hear the broadcast...then you didn't hear the broadcast...

Don't shoot the messenger...

[IdahoNat]

Fellas...if you didn't hear the broadcast...then you didn't hear the broadcast...

Don't shoot the messenger...

Nah I'm usually listening to something else on my headphones, but it doesn't take away from his showcase of speed.

[Slateman]

4 game hit streak

[varoadking]

4 game hit streak

That got his average up to .193...

[SkinsNatFan21RIP]

Happy with the progress he's making. The talent is clearly there.

[imref]

Cubbage:

Dylan Crews Average Launch Angle and HR/AB by year:
2024: 8.7° | 39.67
2025: 8.5° | 29.3
2026: 11.6° | 21.75

[Slateman]

5 games

[imref]

starting in LF tonight with Wood over to RF. Butera expecting a lot of pull hitters to left tonight?

[Slateman]

starting in LF tonight with Wood over to RF. Butera expecting a lot of pull hitters to left tonight?

Wood seems to be more comfortable in RF than LF. And when you lead the league in OPS, the manager wants you to be comfortable

[imref]

Robbed of another RBI tonight:

[Slateman]

Hitting over .200 now. Vark in shambles

[imref]

definitely heading in the right direction: Last 7: .259 BA / .815 OPS with 2 HRs. And OPS would be higher if he had a challenge left last night.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

definitely heading in the right direction: Last 7: .259 BA / .815 OPS with 2 HRs. And OPS would be higher if he had a challenge left last night.

Going back a little more, since 6/10 (last 11 games),  44 PAs, 11 hits, 3 HR. 18.2 K%, .250 / .250 / .523, 90.9 MPH avg EV, .242 BABIP, 16.7 LD%, 30. GB%, 52.8 FB%.  The lack of walks is eyebrow raising, but otherwise, he's making contact and crushing it. Hitting flies too. If there's an issue, too much of the contact is still to  center, which is the toughest spot to reach for a homer. Sam Sallick actually  picked up on this  using whole season stats, but it is moreso lately.

Crews’ second problem is actually a bit counterintuitive. He is hitting the ball to the middle of the field too often right now. Dylan Crews is hitting the ball straightaway 48.8% of the time, over 10% more often than the average hitter. As kids, we were all taught to use the middle of the field, but in 2026 major league baseball, that strategy has drawbacks.

Lance Brozdowski made a video about how balls hit to center field, even barrels to center are outs more than ever in the past few seasons. One of the big reasons for this is pretty simple, center fielders have gotten insanely good at defense. From Jacob Young to PCA to Ceddanne Rafaela and more, there are just so many good center fielders right now.
...
Crews’ heavy use of the middle of the field could explain why his xwOBA is so much higher than his raw numbers. ...

However, until he starts pulling the ball more, or even just not hitting half his balls up the middle, he is going to underperform his expected stats. ...

 He is doing a lot of things well, like hitting the ball hard, whiffing less and elevating more.

https://www.federalbaseball.com/washington-nationals-analysis/92038/dylan-crews-has-bright-flashes-pursuit-consistency-continues

[JCA-CrystalCity]

By the way, I posted his recent LD / GB / FB split as well as his K rate. For comparison, last season those were 15.2 LD%, 50.7 GB%, 34.1 FB%, 23.6 K%. 2024, his GB /FB split was even more towards GBs.  IT may be just a streak, but it is radically different than his past GB  / FB  split.

[imref]

By the way, I posted his recent LD / GB / FB split as well as his K rate. For comparison, last season those were 15.2 LD%, 50.7 GB%, 34.1 FB%, 23.6 K%. 2024, his GB /FB split was even more towards GBs.  IT may be just a streak, but it is radically different than his past GB  / FB  split.

baseball savant flags his high chase and low walk rates, but otherwise he's elite in almost every other metric.

https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/dylan-crews-686611?stats=statcast-r-hitting-mlb

[Natsinpwc]

baseball savant flags his high chase and low walk rates, but otherwise he's elite in almost every other metric.

https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/dylan-crews-686611?stats=statcast-r-hitting-mlb

Yea from what I see have no idea why any pitcher would throw him a strike first pitch or even two.  Seems scared to fall bound in the count.  Darnell Coles effect??

[imref]

0.1 WAR!

Cubbage notes:

Dylan Crews has the 3rd largest discrepancy between his wOBA (.273) and xWOBA (.340) among all MLB hitters with 100 plate appearances (Robbed of a walk and was an inch off a HR last night too).

[imref]

Up to .223. For comparison, Mead is at .224.

[Slateman]

.807 OPS since June 10

[zimm_da_kid]

.807 OPS since June 10

Hopefully it lasts! I'm optimistic, but cautiously so.

[NatsLSU]

Check out the numbers from this 12-game stretch:

Slash Line: .319 / .373 / .532
Hits: 15-for-47
Runs: 11
RBIs: 7
SB: 2

The Power Breakdown:HR: 2
2B: 4
Total XBH: 6