Why 2026 Is a Pivotal Year for Dylan Crews-and the Nationals
The Washington Nationals aren’t entering 2026 with playoff buzz or bold predictions. Expectations are tempered, the offseason was quiet, and with spring training ramping up, this marks the beginning of a new chapter under GM Paul Toboni and manager Blake Butera. But while the team as a whole may still be in rebuild mode, one player enters the season with a very different kind of spotlight.
Dylan Crews is the most important player in the Nationals’ organization this year. And it’s not particularly close.
Crews, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 draft, arrived in Washington with a resume that screamed “future star.” Golden Spikes Award winner.
National champion at LSU. A $9 million signing bonus.
The kind of five-tool talent teams dream about building around. From the moment the Nationals called his name, he was pegged as a cornerstone for the franchise’s next competitive window.
He didn’t waste much time climbing the ladder, either. In just over a year, Crews went from college standout to big league debut, making his first appearance on August 26, 2024. But in the early stages of his MLB career, the results haven’t matched the hype.
Through 412 big league at-bats across parts of two seasons, Crews owns a .211 batting average and a .634 OPS. He’s hit 13 home runs, driven in 35 runs, and swiped 29 bases.
The tools are still there-he’s shown flashes of the athleticism, speed, and power that made him a top pick-but the consistency hasn’t followed. A high strikeout rate and a tendency to put the ball on the ground have limited his offensive impact.
And a left oblique strain that cost him nearly three months didn’t help, interrupting any rhythm he was starting to build.
For a player expected to lead the next generation of Nationals baseball, that’s not the kind of start you hope for. Which is exactly why 2026 looms so large.
Crews is still just 23. The raw talent remains undeniable.
He covers ground in the outfield, runs the bases with purpose, and when he connects, the bat speed and exit velocity are eye-popping. He’s not lacking tools-he’s just searching for the version of himself that put college baseball on notice.
And there are reasons to believe he’s closer than the surface numbers suggest. Under the hood, some of his advanced metrics hint at a player who’s been a bit unlucky.
With improved swing decisions and more consistent contact, the results could take a sharp turn upward. That’s where the Nationals’ revamped hitting infrastructure comes into play.
This spring, Washington is leaning into development, and Crews is front and center in that effort. Manager Blake Butera, along with new hitting coaches Matt Borgschulte and Andrew Aydt, bring a younger, data-driven approach to the clubhouse. It’s a system built to unlock talent like Crews’.
If he takes a step forward, the ripple effect across the lineup will be immediate. The Nationals have been missing an impact bat in the heart of the order-Crews has the potential to be that guy. A breakout season wouldn’t just boost his individual trajectory; it would inject real momentum into a franchise that’s trying to climb out of six straight losing seasons.
Yes, there are other names to watch in 2026. James Wood is a rising star.
CJ Abrams continues to evolve. Daylen Lile and Cade Cavalli will be key pieces.
But none of them face the same pressure-or carry the same weight-as Crews. This is the year he needs to start turning potential into production.
He doesn’t need to contend for MVP honors. But he does need to show that he’s on the path to becoming the player the Nationals-and their fans-believe he can be.
If he doesn’t, the questions will start to mount. If he does, he could be the spark that brings energy back to Nationals Park.
The talent is there. The opportunity is here. And in 2026, Dylan Crews has the chance to not just turn the page-but to start writing a whole new chapter in D.C.