The buzz around the Nationals' camp is centered on Dylan Crews and whether he should make the Opening Day roster. Just a month ago, this seemed like a no-brainer-Crews was expected to be a lock for a starting spot. Yet, the situation has shifted, and his position is far from secure.
This spring has been tough for Crews. With a 3-for-28 showing and 10 strikeouts, he's looking more like last year's struggling player than the promising talent everyone anticipated. It's as if he's caught in a cycle of self-doubt, resulting in some rough at-bats.
So, should Crews start the season in Triple-A? While it might not be the most popular opinion, it's worth considering.
Crews hasn't quite conquered the Triple-A or even Double-A levels. After moving up from A ball in 2023, he hit a wall in Double-A, managing just a .595 OPS in 20 games.
Many chalked it up to fatigue from a long college season and his pro debut.
In 2024, he improved in Double-A, batting .274 with a .789 OPS-not bad, but not the dominance expected from a top college hitter. His move to Triple-A was similar: solid but unspectacular, with a .265 average and a .795 OPS. He didn’t exactly light the league on fire.
Despite this, Crews got the call to the majors at the end of 2024. While he showed potential, his .218 average and .641 OPS left much to be desired.
He secured a starting spot for 2025 but struggled early and was sidelined by injury just as he began to heat up. It was a tough year, but there was hope that a new coaching regime could help him elevate his game.
This spring, however, Crews seems more lost than ever, prompting fans to reconsider his trajectory. The fact that he never truly dominated in the minors should have been a warning sign, but his college success overshadowed those concerns.
With Paul Toboni and Blake Butera leading the new regime, there's an emphasis on fresh starts. While this could benefit Crews, it also means they might send him down if he doesn’t perform. They aren’t tied to him as a second overall pick, which means he’s not guaranteed a spot.
Still, it would be surprising if Crews isn’t on the Opening Day roster. The team seems inclined to fix him at the MLB level, but given his track record in Triple-A, more time there might be beneficial.
Suggesting Crews start in the minors isn’t an overreaction-it's a rational take on the situation. There’s a case for keeping him in the majors, but don’t dismiss the idea that he could benefit from more seasoning in Triple-A.
Since reaching the upper minors, Crews hasn’t matched the player who dominated college baseball. It's puzzling-he was one of the safest draft prospects, yet his career is at a crossroads.
Three years after his standout junior season at LSU, we've seen his college teammate Paul Skenes excel, while Crews hasn't taken that leap. At draft time, they were seen as similar prospects, making their divergent paths all the more striking.
The Nationals have seen this before, with Stephen Strasburg and Dustin Ackley in 2009. Crews still has time to avoid becoming a cautionary tale like Ackley, but the trajectory is concerning.
The lack of minor league dominance is perhaps more troubling than his MLB struggles. We’re holding onto his LSU performances for hope, but it’s getting nerve-wracking.
Spring Training stats may not count, but the signs aren’t promising. Paul Toboni faces a tough decision: should Crews stay in the majors to learn from a new staff, or should he gain confidence by dominating Triple-A?
The likely choice is to keep him in the majors, but Crews will be on a short leash. If his struggles continue into the regular season, a stint in Rochester may be inevitable.
Crews’ career so far has been a rollercoaster-every step forward seems to be followed by two steps back. It’s not the journey anyone expected, and it’s officially time to be concerned.