Dylan Crews is returning to the Major Leagues…and a move that was already in the works potentially comes at a very opportune time for the Nats.
Mark Zuckerman first reported Monday that the Nats plan to recall Crews from Triple-A on Tuesday, ending a 41-game stint at Rochester where the former No. 2 overall pick slashed .258/.345/.432 with five homers, 20 RBI, seven steals, 10 doubles, and 30 runs scored.
Washington optioned Crews to Triple-A to open the year after he had just three hits in 34 plate appearances this spring (with 11 strikeouts), following a first full MLB season where he hit just .208 with a .632 OPS in 2025.
The Nationals optioned infielder Brady House, who has slashed .227/.282/.399 with seven homers and 25 RBI in 41 games, to Triple-A as the corresponding move, but Crews may end up getting significant playing time in the outfield right away.
Jacob Young left Monday’s loss to the Mets after being hit in the ribs with a pitch in the second inning, and Joey Wiemer – who replaced Young in the game – suffered a bruised hand later in the game when he was hit by a pitch. The Nats said X-rays were negative for both, and they are both considered day-to-day, but Wiemer, despite the fact he ‘couldn’t really swing the bat’ in his last plate appearance, had an RBI single that tied the game in the 10th.
The moves also carry a bit of future implications for the Nats as well. With Crews, his call-up now means he can only reach one year and 167 days of service time by the end of the year, ensuring the Nationals have team control on Crews through at least through 2030.
For House, he heads to Triple-A with 159 days of MLB service time, meaning 13 more days on the MLB roster will put him over a year; should he not return this season, the Nats would then have team control through at least 2032, instead of 2031.
