Crews ready to ascend to MLB stage

This story was excerpted from Jessica Camerato’s Nationals Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

For the second time in two months, the Nationals are calling up a potential future centerpiece of the franchise. Outfielder Dylan Crews is slated to make his Major League debut on Monday against the Yankees at Nationals Park.

Let’s take a look at some of the standout moments from this season that led MLB’s No. 3 prospect to this next step in his career.

April 9: First home run of 2024
Crews connected on his first homer of 2024 in his fourth game of the season for Double-A Harrisburg against the Altoona Curve. He overcame an 0-2 count to hit a line drive to center field off right-hander Braxton Ashcraft (MLB’s No. 94 prospect). Crews drove in Robert Hassell III and Nick Senzel on the three-run shot on his way to going 4-for-5 with four RBIs.

April 14: Is that a … grand slam?
What at first seemed like a double turned out to be a grand slam for Crews. With the bases loaded, Crews stopped at second base after connecting on the first pitch from Altoona right-hander Valentin Linarez. An official review, however, confirmed the hit was a home run -- resulting in Crews’ second pro-level grand slam.

June 13: Double steal = run scored
Crews, in tandem with Washington’s No. 2 prospect Brady House, completed a double steal vs. the Bowie Baysox. With Crews on third base, House took off from first against catcher Silas Ardoin and right-hander Trace Bright (the Orioles’ No. 14 prospect). House beat the throw to second as Crews slid safely into home.

June 19: Welcome to Triple-A
Crews was promoted to Triple-A on June 18. The following day, he made his first hit with the Red Wings a memorable one: A home run to right-center field. Crews rocked a sweeper from Syracuse Mets right-hander Mike Vasil (the Mets’ No. 18 prospect) a projected 376 feet. Crews homered again just two days later.

July 27: What a throw!
When Lehigh Valley’s Scott Kingery singled to center field, Matt Kroon attempted to score from second base. Crews, though, fielded the line drive and fired a throw to catcher Drew Millas. Crews’ one-hop throw was on point, and Millas tagged Kroon out at the plate to end the inning.

Aug. 10: Defense on full display
Playing center field against the Buffalo Bisons, Crews made a diving catch to rob a hit from Alan Roden (the Blue Jays’ No. 13 prospect). Crews tracked the line drive toward left field before fully extending to make the impressive grab.

Aug. 21: Four hits in Triple-A
In the days leading up to his promotion to The Show, Crews collected four hits -- his most in a Triple-A game -- against Lehigh Valley. Crews tallied four singles, one RBI and two stolen bases in a dominant performance. It was his second four-hit game of the season, with the other coming on April 9 with Double-A Harrisburg.