Dylan Crews is considered the Washington Nationals top prospect. He’s been a pro for only a month, but the second overall pick in this year’s MLB Draft is already turning heads. He’s getting rewarded with the Nats promoting him from Single-A affiliate Fredericksburg to Double-A Harrisburg, per Grant Paulsen of 106.7 The Fan.
Additionally, Crews’ fellow 2023 draft picks, Yohandy Morales and Andrew Pinckney, are getting promoted from Fredericksburg to High-A Wilmington.
Dylan Crews finished his stay with Fredericksburg Sunday, going 2-for-5 at the plate with three strikeouts. In 14 games, Crews hit .355 with a 1.068 OPS. He also bolted five home runs and 24 RBI while scoring 16 runs.
Crews’ move now places three of the Nats’ top prospects with the Harrisburg Senators. He joins James Wood and Robert Hassell, two outfielders the Nats acquired from San Diego in the Juan Soto trade last year.
The Nats are promoting 24-year-old outfielder Jacob Young from Double-A to Triple-A Rochester, clearing the way for Crews, Wood, and Hassell to share the outfield. All three have the range to play center field. Also, they expect to spend time in the majors as early as next season.
The Nats can see the trio playing together alongside future third baseman Brady House, the club’s 2021 first-round draft pick.
Yohandy Morales, the Nats’ second-round pick this year, played 18 games at third base for Fredericksburg. He hit .390 with a 1.019 OPS, ten doubles, and two triples. He also drew eight walks against 18 strikeouts and drove in 17 runs.
This year’s fourth-round selection, Andrew Pinckney, hit .329 with a .936 OPS in 17 games with Fredericksburg. He added three home runs, 15 RBI, and six stolen bases.
The Nats have embarked on a rebuild, trading three integral parts to its 2019 World Series championship — Soto, Max Scherzer, and Trea Turner — the previous two seasons. Using the prospects acquired as CJ Abrams, Josiah Gray, and Keibert Ruiz, already the Nats are seeing dividends.
Washington surpassed last year’s 55 wins with its 56th victory in 123 games this year. But what’s more exciting is the plethora of talent lurking in the farm system. Crews, House, Morales, and Pinckney are just a few of the slugging prospects the club has drafted in recent years. Mix in the talent from the Padres and Dodgers trades, and Washington’s future is looking amazingly bright.
