Perhaps a shocker ahead of Nationals opening day: the team has optioned OF Dylan Crews to Triple-A Rochester to begin the season.
Crews, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, made his major-league debut late in 2024 and spent most of last season on the MLB roster – but, in 116 games at the highest level, he has slashed just .211/.282/.352 with 13 home runs, 35 RBI, and 29 steals.
His struggles continued this spring, as he was slashing .107/.188/.107 in 32 plate appearances entering Friday.
With Crews optioned, the Nats have five outfielders remaining in camp; Daylen Lile, Jacob Young, and James Wood look like they will be the starting trio, and Joey Wiemer and Christian Franklin, who are both on the 40-man roster, are also still vying for spots.
Wiemer has an option remaining and Franklin, who was acquired from the Cubs in last summer’s Mike Soroka deal and has yet to make his MLB debut, has all three, but it appears that barring a non-roster surprise or a change once opt-outs and end-of-spring releases are made, both could break camp with the Nats.
