MiLB Player of the Week Spotlight: Nationals' Crews
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Dylan Crews has come into pro ball like a wrecking ball.
The Nationals' top prospect has undoubtedly lived up to the billing of being the No. 2 overall pick in this year's Draft thus far, and the league has taken notice. Crews was named the Minor League Player of the Week in the Carolina League after posting a .414/.469/.793 slash line with 14 RBIs and 23 total bases over six games for Single-A Fredericksburg.
The 21-year-old is fresh off his most impressive effort to date -- going 5-for-5 with a pair of home runs, a walk, six RBIs and four runs scored for the FredNats on Sunday. Over six contests last week, Crews recorded 12 hits -- including three dingers and a pair of doubles -- a trio of walks and seven runs scored.
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"Coach Jay [Johnson] always told me the game doesn’t change, people change. So, coming here, it was a little bit of an adjustment, obviously -- you know the crowds are different, it’s wood bats. But really, I'm familiar with all the guys that got drafted with me. So, it’s like it’s nothing new to me," Crews told Ryan Dempster, Kevin Millar and Siera Santos on MLB Network's Intentional Talk. "The locker room is great. Everybody has one goal in mind, and that’s to win every game, so it’s awesome."
After lasting just a single game at the Rookie level, Crews was promoted to the Carolina League on Aug. 5. MLB.com's No. 4 overall prospect has hit safely in five of eight games since joining the FredNats, with three multihit efforts. He is batting .333/.381/.692 with four homers, 15 RBIs, eight runs scored and a stolen base.
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Crews is a two-time SEC Player of the Year selection, the 2023 Golden Spikes Award winner and won the College World Series while batting .426/.567/.713 and tying for the NCAA Division I lead with 71 walks. He signed the biggest bonus for a position player, the second highest in Draft history ($9 million) -- his LSU teammate Paul Skenes signed the largest ($9.2 million).
"It was an awesome feeling for sure. Especially since Florida got us in 2017, and it felt like it was a good time for us to come out on top and win the National Championship," Crews said. "It was a great feeling. It’s something that each kid dreams of, and for us to do that, you know, I’ll never forget it."
He even revealed the first thing he purchased with that hefty signing bonus.
"I had to get a Rolex," Crews said.
Crews credits part of his early success to a mentor and friend. Another former LSU baseball standout, MLB All-Star and World Series champion -- Alex Bregman.
"He’s a guy that I go to if I ever need any help or if I ever need to talk about something. Just, anything really, cause he’s been through it," Crews said. "He’s a guy that I go to and he’s been in my shoes in every situation, so I’ll call him up and we’ll just have a good conversation of what to expect. And he’s just a great dude and I’m really happy he’s in my corner."