The Nationals selected LSU outfielder Dylan Crews with the No. 2 overall pick in the MLB Draft Sunday night, and on Monday, Brian Mitchell and Scott Jackson (in for JP Finlay) got some intel from someone who has seen Crews’ best and worst: Jacques Doucet, sports reported for WAFB-TV in Baton Rouge, Louisiana!
Doucet grew up in Lafayette and has worked in Baton Rouge for nearly a quarter-century, so he was ‘honored to be on with the great Brian Mitchell, who should be in the Hall of Fame’ – and that’s a trajectory Jacques thinks Crews could be on eventually as well.
“He’s a fantastic baseball player and a better person. To come out of high school as a top prospect and decide he didn’t want to go to the pros, but go to LSU and win a national championship, that’s amazing,” Doucet said. “His career on-base percentage was .480 and he batted .426 this season, and he’s a tremendous outfielder who makes a ton of great catches.”
And he’s not one of those LSU champs that will point to the ring finger, either – he’s a stud off the field, too.
“There’s nothing wrong with swag, but that’s not him – he’s real even-keeled, not a guy who struts, and he’ll be great in the community with giving back,” Doucet said. “And when he’s called up, his father will be leading the tailgate and making lots of new friends. You guys should be very happy with Dylan Crews.”
A great person and player coming to DC, but Doucet thinks the Pirates got a good one in No. 1 pick, and fellow Tiger, RHP Paul Skenes.
“I think Skenes, I’d have leaned towards him just because I don’t think I’ve ever seen a guy still hitting 98 to 100 in the ninth inning – he’s just a physical freak,” Doucet said. “The catcher once said he’d seen a lot of guys throw 100 but not know where it’s going, but not Skenes. He’s big and has a football feel to him that overpowers people.”
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But…
“Jay Johnson, who has coached 15 major-leaguers, said Crews is the best player he’s ever coached,” Doucet said. “Dylan Crews is perhaps the best position player in LSU history.”
So, then, when Crews does make it up to DC, what is it that will get him here on the fast track?
“He’s so mature, and he doesn’t get too high or low – and in a sport where failure pounds even the best players on the head over and over, he understands to enjoy it when he’s hot, but he’s going to get cold like everyone does,” Doucet said. “That temperament, I think, will help him get to the bigs sooner than later.”
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