Crews racks up 2 HRs, 5 hits, 6 RBIs in monster outing
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On Thursday, Dylan Crews slotted in as the No. 4 overall prospect when MLB Pipeline's midseason rankings were unveiled.
It hasn't taken him long to prove why he's considered so elite.
Crews was a one-man wrecking crew Sunday, with his first pro multihomer game as part of a five-hit, six-RBI afternoon for Single-A Fredericksburg. The hits, RBIs and four runs scored were career highs in his young career in a narrow 14-13 loss to Lynchburg at Bank of the James Stadium.
“Honestly, I feel great at the plate right now,” Crews said. “It took me a few games to kind of get acclimated, but my swings have been good. I got a couple of pitches that I was able to handle, and I didn't miss them.
“I felt like I managed the zone pretty well today. I think success often comes with managing the zone and swinging at strikes and taking balls. I feel like I did a good job of that today.”
The second overall prospect in this year's Draft by the Nationals crushed his first homer of the day -- a three-run blast to left field -- in the top of the first inning off right-hander Austin Peterson.
Two innings later, Crews launched another one off the Guardians prospect, this time to the opposite field and off the scoreboard in right.
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The Nationals' top prospect has teed off four times in nine games since turning pro, but that only tells part of his story.
“I think he’s a table-setter for us at the top of the lineup,” FredNats manager Jake Lowery said. “He capped off a week with a five-hit game that he started with a four-hit game. He hit a lot of extra-base hits too.
“It was nice to see him pull the ball to left field for a home run and then he hit his face [on the scoreboard] again in right-center for another home run. He just did a really nice job for us with runners in scoring position.”
Crews also collected a trio of singles -- a couple to left and one to straightaway center -- showing his ability to spray the ball all over the field. Four of his knocks drove in at least one run.
“It’s a good feeling being able to use all parts of the field to get hits and hit for power," he said. "That's something I take pride in, and I have all the trust in my abilities to go out there and perform.
“That’s something that is kind of embedded in me. Ever since I was in college and even before. Any time there's a runner in scoring position, I have a job to do and that's my main goal. I'm gonna try my best to make that happen.”
The hit tool ranked a 70 by MLB Pipeline that made Crews a can’t-miss prospect in the Draft has been evident in the early going, with 13 hits in his first nine games as a pro. After one game in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League, the former LSU standout headed to Fredericksburg.
“It seems like he’s getting a hit every inning, which is good, especially on a day like today," Lowery said. "He’s been getting on base, stealing bags, going from first to third base ... he's just that type of guy and I look forward to having him for years to come in the Nationals' system.”