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.
NEW YORK -- Dylan Crews and Harry Ford are regarded as two pieces of the Nationals’ long-term future. To begin this season, though, they were optioned to Triple-A Rochester to continue developing.
For Crews, 24, it is a reset after struggling to find consistency in his first full season in the Major Leagues. For Ford, 23, it is a chance to get more reps after coming from a crowded Mariners catching room.
Nationals president of baseball operations Paul Toboni provided updates on the pair ahead of Tuesday's series opener against the Mets at Citi Field.
OF Dylan Crews
• 2026 stats: 25 games, .234/.342/.351, .693 OPS
• Major League experience: 116 games, .211/.282/.352, .634 OPS
When Crews was optioned to Rochester: “We want to give him some time to work through those small adjustments in Triple-A,” manager Blake Butera said. “Where it’s not 40,000 people yelling down his neck every night and he can actually work on some of those things.”
After the first four weeks of Red Wings’ season: “Dylan is progressing well,” said Toboni. “He's walking at a higher clip, and I think the improvements in pitch selection have been largely a good thing. I think the next step for Dylan is that when he is letting it fly in the zone, that he's squaring pitches up and driving them for damage. So he's been great in terms of just how disciplined he's stayed to the process.
“Then also from a defense and baserunning standpoint, he's been awesome, which I don't think will surprise anyone. So really excited about the strides he's made, the strides he's going to continue to make going forward.”
C Harry Ford (Nationals' No. 3 prospect, MLB No. 61)
• 2026 stats: 19 games, .189/.299/.230, .529 OPS
• Major League experience: 8 games, .167/.250/.167, .417 OPS
COMPLETE NATIONALS PROSPECT COVERAGE
When Ford was optioned to Rochester: “Understanding how the pitchers feel throwing to him, that’s a big part of the catching game, obviously,” said Butera. “Making sure that our pitchers in Triple-A are having success with Harry catching. Then also understanding that the blocking’s good, the receiving numbers are good, and then you see the offense, hopefully he continues to do what he’s done in his career so far. Those are the big-ticket items.”
After the first four weeks of Red Wings’ season: “I think if you ask Harry, he's like, ‘Gosh, I wish I was hitting better than I have been,’” said Toboni. “But I think a lot of the underlying stuff is pretty darn good. He’s got a tremendous eye, he controls the zone great.
“I think the big thing for Harry here in the coming weeks is, when you get up there and you get your pitch, let it loose with intent and try and hit a ball hard. Not that he's not right now -- but I think Harry at times can get caught trying to be so perfect and put the ball in play that, hey, let it loose and do some damage and trust your eye that you'll be swinging at good pitches and having success.”