Crews Your Own Adventure
Dylan Crews (WSN): 3-5, 2B, 2 HR, 4 R, 4 RBI.
It hasn’t exactly been an ideal start to Dylan Crews‘ major league career.
The No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft made his MLB debut with the Nationals last year, but the results were a bit underwhelming. In 132 plate appearances, he posted a slash of .218/.288/.353 with a .641 OPS. He showed some flashes of power with three home runs, and he stole 12 bases. That said, much of his fantasy value in fantasy drafts this past offseason was based on his once massive prospect hype.
This year, his struggles have been even more amplified.
Crews’ slash is only .177/.215/.290, and his OPS is .505 in 65 plate appearances. His K rate has risen from 19.7% to 30%, and his walk rate has gone from 8.3% in 2024 to 5.0% this season. Thus, it’s no surprise that fantasy managers who roster Crews may be in panic mode, especially if they spent a high draft pick or a plethora of auction dollars on the former LSU product.
Saturday may have been a step in the right direction for Crews. Against a struggling Rockies team (they are 3-16), Crews collected three hits, two home runs, four RBI, and scored four runs. It was a nice show of power from a hitter who hit 13 home runs in 100 games in the Nationals’ minor league system in 2024.
On a positive note, Crews’ power and batted-ball ability have been encouraging, even if his strikeout and walk rates aren’t.
His barrel rate is up to 7.7% (6.4% last year), his LA Sweet-Spot rate is 28.2% (23.4% last year), and his .363 xwOBA CON is only five points lower than his mark a season ago. The hard-hit rate needs work, as his 30.8% mark is a 13.9% decline from 2024. Nonetheless, the barrels show that Crews can turn his stat line around once he figures out the decision-making at the plate.
It may be a wild ride for Crews this season, which may make it tough for fantasy managers who roster him, especially if they’re struggling early on with their team. Still, the Nationals are undergoing a youth movement with not only Crews but James Wood, Jacob Young, and MacKenzie Gore. He will likely receive plenty of at-bats, regardless of his performance.
Thus, the 23-year-old outfielder may not be everyone’s cup of tea, even with the tremendous short and long-term upside he possesses as a fantasy baseball performer.
Let’s see how the other hitters did Saturday.
Mickey Moniak (COL): 2-3, 3B, HR, 3 R, 4 RBI, BB.
The Rockies lost, but Moniak’s performance shouldn’t be overlooked, as he hit a triple and his third home run of the year. After getting let go by the Angels, Moniak is getting a fresh start in Colorado, and it’s paying off. In 49 plate appearances, he is hitting .256 with a .952 OPS and has scored 10 runs with the Rockies this year.
Ramón Laureano (BAL): 2-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 3 RBI.
Laureano was a significant catalyst in the Orioles’ nine-run day against Hunter Greene and the Reds’ pitching staff. He hit his second and third home runs of the year in their 9-5 win. He’s only hitting .190 for the year, but his OPS is .846 thanks to a .619 slugging. The 30-year-old outfielder may not be much of a fantasy option yet, but he could be soon if he gets that average up.
Liam Hicks (MIA): 4-5, HR, R, 4 RBI.
It was Hicks’ “Welcome to the majors” moment on Saturday. The rookie catcher collected four hits against a good Phillies team and hit his first MLB home run, a two-run shot that got the Marlins within one. Miami fell short to Philadelphia 11-10, but the Marlins may have found an intriguing backup catcher in the 25-year-old Arkansas State product.
Jake Fraley (CIN): 1-2, HR, 2 R, RBI, 3 BB.
Is a Fraley “bounce back” looming? After hitting 15 home runs in 380 plate appearances in 2023, the Reds outfielder only hit five in 382 last year. That’s a surprise considering that he plays in one of the most homer-friendly ballparks in baseball. On Saturday, he hit his second home run of the year, and his barrel rate (5.4%) and hard-hit rate (32.4%) are back to similar levels to what he produced in 2023. Surpassing the five-HR mark from a year ago should be easy if he’s healthy.
Fernando Tatis (SDP): 2-4, HR, 2 R, RBI, SB.
Another night, another strong Tatis fantasy performance. Against the Astros on Saturday, Tatis hit his seventh homer, stole his seventh base, and collected two hits, improving his average to .351 for the year. With a 1.063 OPS in 89 plate appearances, the 26-year-old Padres slugger could be on the verge of an NL MVP campaign this season.
Pete Alonso (NYM): 2-4, 2B, HR, R, 2 RBI.
Remember when it seemed like Alonso would be leaving Queens? That didn’t happen, and Mets fans couldn’t be more thankful. The 30-year-old first baseman has been the Mets’ best hitter by a significant margin this year, a feat not made easy by the presence of Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto also in the lineup. In 90 plate appearances, he is hitting .356 with a 1.220 OPS, and against the Cardinals on Saturday, he hit his sixth home run of the year.
Alex Verdugo (ATL): 4-5, 2 2B, 2 R, RBI.
Atlanta is 2-0 with Verdugo in the lineup and 5-13 when he isn’t. It could be a coincidence (or more due to them playing the Twins at home). Nonetheless, the numbers don’t lie, and Verdugo has been a nice jolt to an Atlanta lineup that started the year cold at the plate. On Saturday, he collected four hits, including two doubles. With a .400 average and 1.000 OPS, the former Dodgers, Red Sox, and Yankees outfielder could be a nice bat at the top of the lineup until Ronald Acuña Jr. returns.
Ben Williamson (SEA): 2-6, 2B, HR, 2 R, RBI.
He’s only had 20 plate appearances, but Williamson is making a name for himself in the Pacific Northwest. In Seattle’s 8-4 win in Toronto, the 24-year-old third baseman hit his first major league home run. As was the case last year, the Mariners have struggled offensively to start the season. Perhaps the rookie corner infielder can help them snap out of their funk for the remainder of the season (he certainly did today).
Mike Trout (LAA): 2-3, 2 HR, 2 R, 2 RBI.
It doesn’t matter how old Trout is (he’s 33, which feels too young). He is the “best there is, the best there was, and the best there will be” (sorry, Wrestlemania weekend). Well, he’s only hitting .192, so maybe the latter two statements may be a stretch. However, Saturday’s performance reminded fantasy baseball fans what Trout can do when healthy. He launched two bombs, his fifth and sixth of the year. The long-time Angel may be a “three true outcomes” guy at this point in his career. However, that’s not a bad offensive profile, especially with so many other talented bats around him this season.
