Dylan Crews Bio
Dylan Gray Crews (born February 26, 2002) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played college baseball for the LSU Tigers, with whom he won the 2023 College World Series and the Golden Spikes Award. Crews was selected by the Nationals second overall in the 2023 MLB draft and made his MLB debut in 2024.
Early Life and Background
Dylan Gray Crews was born on February 26, 2002, in Altamonte Springs, Florida. He grew up in Central Florida and attended Lake Mary High School in Lake Mary, Florida, where he quickly established himself as one of the top amateur players in the country. During his amateur career, he represented USA Baseball twice, suiting up for the 14U team and the 18U team that won a gold medal.
As a junior in 2019, Crews batted .389 with 15 stolen bases and later appeared in the Under Armour All-America Baseball Game at Wrigley Field. His senior season in 2020 was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic, but he was still viewed as a top prospect for that year’s MLB draft. He withdrew his name from consideration a week before the draft and announced that he would honor his commitment to play college baseball at Louisiana State University.
Path to Baseball
Crews arrived at LSU and immediately became the Tigers’ starting right fielder as a freshman in 2021. He started 63 games and batted .362 with 18 home runs, 42 RBI, 16 doubles, and 12 stolen bases. His 18 home runs set a new LSU freshman record, surpassing the previous mark held by Mike Fontenot. He earned All-American honors and was named National Freshman of the Year by Perfect Game, then joined the United States national baseball team after the season.
In 2022, Crews shifted to center field and was named co-Southeastern Conference Baseball Player of the Year alongside Sonny DiChiara. He finished the year with a .349/.463/.691 slash line, 22 home runs, and 72 RBI across 62 games. He returned to USA Baseball that summer and entered 2023 as the consensus top prospect for the MLB draft, ranked first by MLB Pipeline, Baseball America, FanSided, and Perfect Game.
Dylan Crews Career
Early Career (2021-2022)
Crews’ first two college seasons at LSU established him as one of the most complete hitters in the country. His freshman power display, his 2022 SEC Player of the Year co-honor, and his continued presence with USA Baseball gave him a strong foundation. He also briefly played for the Sanford River Rats of the Florida Collegiate Summer League during that span.
Draft analysts praised his hitting ability and outfield profile throughout his development. Crews was routinely described as a five-tool player with the bat, arm, and instincts to stay in the middle of a major league outfield.
LSU and College World Series Breakthrough (2023)
Crews’ junior season was his defining college year. He batted .426 with 18 home runs, 70 RBI, and 100 runs scored while leading LSU to the 2023 Men’s College World Series title. He was named SEC Player of the Year for the second consecutive season and was awarded the Golden Spikes Award as the top amateur player in the country.
Heading into the 2023 MLB draft, MLB Pipeline ranked Crews as the best prospect available, with Baseball America, FanSided, and Perfect Game all projecting him to be selected first overall. FanGraphs ranked him as the third-best prospect in the draft class.
Washington Nationals Era (2023-Present)
The Washington Nationals selected Crews second overall in the 2023 MLB draft, and he signed on July 21, 2023, for a $9 million signing bonus. He made his professional debut on August 3 with the rookie-level Florida Complex League, going 3-for-3 with three runs in his lone game. He moved quickly through the system, appearing with Single-A Fredericksburg and Double-A Harrisburg before finishing his first professional season with a combined .292/.377/.467 slash line, five home runs, and 24 RBI across 35 games.
Crews began 2024 at Harrisburg, hitting .274/.343/.446 with five home runs, 38 RBI, and 15 stolen bases over 51 games before a June 17 promotion to Triple-A Rochester. On August 26, 2024, he was added to the 40-man roster and promoted to the majors, debuting that night at Nationals Park against the New York Yankees. He recorded his first MLB hit, a double off Gerrit Cole, on August 27, and hit his first MLB home run on August 28 off Carlos Rodón. He finished 2024 batting .218 with three home runs, eight RBI, and 12 stolen bases, and was ranked the No. 1 prospect in baseball by MLB Pipeline at season’s end.
In 2025, Crews opened as Washington’s starting right fielder and played 45 games before a left oblique strain sent him to the injured list on May 21. He was transferred to the 60-day injured list on July 22, completed a rehab assignment with Rochester, and was activated on August 14. He ended the year with 85 games played for Washington, slashing .208/.280/.352 with 10 home runs, 27 RBI, and 17 stolen bases.
Player Profile and Strengths
Crews has been described in his MLB.com draft profile as a plus hitter with plus power and a quick right-handed stroke, with a noted tendency to whiff on changeups. He is considered at least an average outfielder with arm strength, the ability to track fly balls, and the potential to play center field at the major league level. Former LSU head coach Paul Mainieri compared Crews’ preparedness for the college game to that of Tigers alumni DJ LeMahieu and Alex Bregman.
Notable Events and Milestones
Crews’ signature achievements include winning the 2023 Men’s College World Series with LSU, earning the 2023 Golden Spikes Award, and being selected second overall in the 2023 MLB draft. He joined USA Baseball’s 14U and 18U teams, winning gold with the 18U squad, and set an LSU freshman home run record with 18 long balls in 2021. In the majors, he recorded his first hit and home run in back-to-back games against the New York Yankees in late August 2024.
Dylan Crews Career Highlights
MLB Highlights
Crews made his MLB debut on August 26, 2024, against the New York Yankees at Nationals Park. Through his first two MLB seasons, he has appeared primarily as a starting outfielder for Washington, contributing power, speed, and defense while adjusting to major league pitching. He has recorded double-digit stolen bases in both of his MLB seasons and has hit double-digit home runs in 2025.
Minor League and College Highlights
Across the minors and college, Crews collected a 2023 College World Series championship, two SEC Player of the Year awards, the 2023 Golden Spikes Award, and an 18U USA Baseball gold medal. He moved through the Nationals system in 2023, reaching Double-A Harrisburg, and climbed to Triple-A Rochester in 2024 before his major league call-up.
Dylan Crews Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Crews grew up in Altamonte Springs, Florida, and attended Lake Mary High School before enrolling at Louisiana State University. Public details about his family background remain limited beyond his Florida upbringing and amateur baseball pedigree. He has represented his country through USA Baseball at multiple youth levels.
Personal Life
Crews is an American professional baseball player based in the United States. Information about his marital status, spouse, and children has not been publicly confirmed.
2025 Season Performance
Crews entered the 2025 season as Washington’s starting right fielder and a former top overall prospect. He played 45 games before a left oblique strain on May 21 placed him on the injured list, and he was later transferred to the 60-day injured list on July 22. He completed a rehab assignment with Triple-A Rochester and was activated on August 14.
After returning, Crews closed the year with 85 games played for Washington, slashing .208/.280/.352 with 10 home runs, 27 RBI, and 17 stolen bases. His stolen-base totals and outfield defense remained strengths as he continued refining his plate approach against major league pitching.
Looking ahead, the Nationals underwent significant changes to their front office, coaching staff, and player development system ahead of the 2026 season, and Crews was optioned to Triple-A Rochester to begin that year. He appeared in 41 games for Rochester, hitting .258 with five home runs and 20 RBI before being recalled to the majors on May 19.
