Crews, now 22, was chosen with the second general choose in final 12 months’s draft, after his Louisiana State teammate Paul Skenes was taken first by the Pirates. Crews put up big numbers on the plate all through his faculty profession and carried that over into his skilled profession. After drafting him final summer season, the Nats received his toes moist with a while on the Advanced League degree, Single-A and Double-A. He slashed .292/.377/.467 in 159 plate appearances for a wRC+ of 135.
Coming into 2024, Crews was already thought-about one of many high 10 prospects within the sport, and he has continued to justify that standing right here in 2024. The Nats began him at Double-A, and he received into 51 video games at that degree this 12 months. He slashed .274/.343/.446 for a 122 wRC+ whereas additionally stealing 15 bases. He was then promoted to Triple-A and has performed in 48 video games at that degree, producing a line of .271/.343/.464 and a 108 wRC+ whereas swiping one other 10 baggage.
Along with that work on the plate and on the basepaths, Crews is taken into account a robust defender who might stick in middle discipline for the long run. The Nats have given him a little bit of time within the corners however have principally had him up the center and can possible view him as a match there for the long run.
Along with his capability to contribute in all aspects of the sport, he’s unanimously seen as among the finest prospects within the sport for the time being. Baseball America presently lists him fourth general, although fellow Nat James Wooden is listed No. 1 and has since graduated from prospect standing, successfully placing Crews within the No. 3 spot. The opposite two guys forward of Crews are already within the majors: Jackson Holliday of the Orioles and Junior Caminero of the Rays. FanGraphs has Crews at No. 6, with MLB Pipeline at No. 3, ESPN at No. 12 and Keith Regulation of The Athletic at No. 7.
The Nats have been in rebuilding mode for a couple of years and have been steadily constructing a core of younger and controllable expertise. Along with the aforementioned Wooden, they’ve shortstop CJ Abrams, pitcher MacKenzie Gore and others. Their document is 58-70 this 12 months, effectively out of competition, to allow them to concentrate on taking part in younger gamers and getting them acclimated to the large leagues.
It’s possible not a coincidence that Crews is being promoted at this a part of the calendar, because the Nats ought to have the ability to hold his rookie standing intact for 2025. To lose rookie standing, a place participant must both spend 45 days on an lively roster or log 130 at-bats. There are actually lower than 45 days left within the 2024 season, so the Nats will undoubtedly handle his taking part in time in such a method that he doesn’t get to that 130 at-bat threshold.
That’s vital because of the prospect promotion incentive. In an try to mitigate service-time manipulation, the collective bargaining settlement permits golf equipment the prospect to earn an additional draft choose in the event that they promote a high prospect for a full season and that participant goes on to win Rookie of the Yr or meet different awards voting standards. By protecting Crews a rookie for 2025, the Nats could have an opportunity to reap that reward if he finally ends up sticking on their roster for all of subsequent 12 months.
For now, it is going to be fascinating to see how the Nats deploy Crews within the outfield. As talked about, Crews is taken into account a succesful defender in middle however has seen a while within the corners. The Nats presently have Jacob Younger, among the finest defensive middle fielders within the league. Younger has hit simply .248/.308/.318 this 12 months for a 79 wRC+ however he has 13 Defensive Runs Saved and 18 Outs Above Common. That OAA complete is tops amongst all fielders in any respect positions this 12 months, whereas the DRS mark is third amongst middle fielders behind Jarren Duran and Daulton Varsho.
Maybe the membership could have Wooden in left, Younger in middle and Crews in proper, although they may even have Alex Name in proper and bump Younger right down to fourth outfielder standing. Name is slashing .347/.429/.531 this 12 months in his 112 plate appearances.
No matter how they disperse the taking part in time, it’s one more promotion that’s a part of the Nats placing collectively a younger group they will construct round. As they push in the direction of opening a brand new aggressive window, their payroll slate is pretty clear. With the Patrick Corbin contract off the books after this season, their two notable commitments might be for catcher Keibert Ruiz and retired star Stephen Strasburg. Maybe that can make them an fascinating participant within the upcoming offseason, although which may rely on how their younger gamers carry out within the the rest of the schedule.
