En route to 'surreal' debut, Crews reminded of Little League roots

WASHINGTON – Dylan Crews’ journey to the Major Leagues took him back to where it all began.

As Crews made the six-hour drive to Washington, D.C., from Rochester, N.Y., for his big league debut, the route took him through Williamsport, Pa., – the site of the Little League World Series, where his childhood club, Lake Mary, had won the 2024 global tournament.

“That’s where it all started, right there,” Crews, ranked as the Nationals’ No. 1 prospect and the No. 3 overall prospect per MLB Pipeline, said before the Nats' 5-2 loss to the Yankees. “It’s like a little circle coming around. We drove through Williamsport on our way here. It was kind of weird – it’s where I started [in] Little League and Lake Mary ended up winning it [this year]. It was a cool moment.”

Crews, 22, was promoted from Triple-A Rochester to make his Major League debut with the Nationals on Monday against the Yankees. Since Aug. 3, he batted .309 with a .385 on-base percentage and a .529 slugging percentage with the Red Wings.

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“There’s always going to be four bases and two foul poles,” said Crews. “So I’m going out there and playing my game – swinging at strikes, taking balls and competing out there, controlling what I can control.”

Crews batted No. 2 between CJ Abrams and James Wood against southpaw Nestor Cortes. He debuted in right field with Wood in left and Jacob Young in center. The plan is for Crews to also see time in center field when Young, a Gold Glove candidate, gets a day off for rest.

“It’s exciting to see those three together,” manager Dave Martinez said. “We’ve been waiting a little while, but I really believe that this is another piece to the puzzle and to our future.”

Crews approached the plate for his first Major League at-bat to the song “Calabria 8000” by Enur. He connected on the second pitch he saw – a 91.4 mph four-seamer – and flew out to right fielder Juan Soto.

Crews demonstrated his discipline in his second at-bat. After taking a called strike one, Crews laid off four consecutive balls to reach base for the first time in his Major League career.

In his final matchup against Cortes in the sixth, Crews struck out in a full count with runners on second and third base. He got a 3-1 advantage, but he swung at consecutive fastballs up in the zone.

With a groundout to first baseman DJ LeMahieu off righty reliever Jake Cousins in the eighth inning, Crews finished the night 0-for-3.

“They’re great pitchers up there, they’re going to get you once in a while,” Crews said. “But I think overall I saw the ball great today and my approach was where I wanted it to be.”

Defensively, Crews was busy in the fourth inning. He cleanly handled a lineout from Jazz Chisholm Jr. for the first out. In the next at-bat, LeMahieu hit a sacrifice fly to right field. Crews made a valiant attempt to throw out the speedy Anthony Volpe running home from third base.

“I felt like the strength of the throw [93.9 mph] was good,” said Crews. “I think it was a little bit off target, a little bit to the left. But it was just one of those one percent plays, and [I] got to get better everyday and come out here tomorrow and work on it.”

Crews is the eighth prospect to make his Major League debut with the Nationals this season. He is a centerpiece of their next chapter that the club has been establishing since the 2021 Trade Deadline.

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Wood lauded Crews’ five-tool skillset that brings the “ability to do everything.” Abrams noted the Nats’ potential for run scoring with Crews in the mix.

“He does it all,” Abrams said. “It’s fun to watch. In Spring Training we saw it, we got a little preview. He’s been doing his thing in the Minors, and now it’s time to show it in the Big Show.”

The spectator area during batting practice was filled with a sea of No. 3 jerseys to watch Crews prepare for his debut. Crews also received well wishes from afar. Fellow LSU standout and Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels sent a video message welcoming Crews to the DMV.

“He’s a special player, a special talent and to be in the same city again, it’s pretty awesome,” Crews said. “Hopefully, I get to see him down the road again and catch up.”

Crews has been preparing for this moment since his baseball dreams began. When they came true on Monday, he processed what he had achieved just 13 months after being drafted second overall by the Nationals.

“I think it finally settled in,” Crews said. “Going out there for the first time, it was a pretty surreal moment. But I just feel like I’m just a kid going out there playing every day, so that’s how I treat it. It’s a pretty awesome feeling.”