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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Dylan Crews already knew baseball at an elite level when he arrived at Nationals camp last season. What he would learn through experience is baseball at the Major League level.
Crews is in his second big league Spring Training -- this time, with his debut in the rearview mirror and a full season with the Nats ahead.
“Last year was kind of like a year where I was trying to figure out routines and everything, just figuring out what I need to do to be a part of the team, really,” Crews, 22, said on Tuesday. “But I feel like this year, I have a good feeling of what to do and how the whole thing operates. Now, it's just full go from here. I know what to expect and what I’ve got to do to be prepared for the season.”
Crews, ranked as MLB’s No. 4 prospect by MLB Pipeline, is slated to return to the starting right-field role this season. The former 2023 No. 2 overall pick out of LSU debuted on Aug. 26 and appeared in 31 games in ‘24.
“He’s going to play exceptional defense, he runs the bases well, so I’m looking forward to getting him here for hopefully the whole year and seeing what he can do,” manager Dave Martinez said. “He definitely is going to help us win games.”
In 119 at-bats last season on the Nats, Crews hit .218 with 12 runs scored, five doubles, one triple, three home runs, eight RBIs and 12 stolen bases. He recorded 26 strikeouts to 11 walks.
This offseason, Crews focused on his swing, getting the ball in the zone and accepting his free bases.
“I was in there every day,” Crews said. “... I finished the year last year at around 190 [pounds], I’m around 205 right now. With hitting, [I] really focused on staying down on the baseball and not trying to come up on the baseball, trying to just stay down and through the baseball. I worked on everything, really, from hitting to outfield to running even, trying to increase some speed and stay flexible.”
Crews was part of a large group of top prospects who earned invitations to Major League Spring Training last year. He appreciates the lessons he learned as an eager newcomer in camp.
“Don’t put so much pressure on yourself because it’s Spring Training,” Crews said. “Everybody's here working, everybody’s working out, trying to get better. So just having a good time with it, joking around, having fun with the guys, and going out there and just trying to work and get better and get ready for the year."
Last spring, the buzz in camp was not if but when Crews would make his Major League debut during the season. With that milestone accomplished, he can focus on a full season in Washington.
“It feels great,” Crews said. “Knowing where I'm going to be from the start, it helps out a whole lot. You can get your mind right and start visualizing what it's going to be like, and just really get excited for Opening Day.”