So, Mike Rizzo, how did you feel about Dylan Crews’ MLB debut Monday, and his first major-league hit on Tuesday?
“Good start for him, and what is hopefully a long, illustrious career. He handled all the hoopla well,” Nats general manager Mike Rizzo said during his weekly appearance Wednesday with 106.7 The Fan's The Sports Junkies, which is presented exclusively by our partners at MainStreet Bank — Cheer Local. Bank Local. Put Our Team in Your Office. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. “It’s not easy to start your career with Juan Soto in the house and the Yankees throwing a Cy Young winner at you. It was a tough challenge and I think he’s up for it.”
One might think Crews would have some serious swagger going from college superstar to No. 2 pick to big-leaguer in the span of about 18 months, but Rizzo says he’s as down to Earth as they come.
“I would describe him as a very warm and welcoming but positive person, with a confident swagger to him. He’s not over the top, it’s not all ‘me, me, me;’ he really embraces the team concept and feels most comfortable in the clubhouse,” Rizzo said. “He’s going to fit in wonderfully with this good young group pf guys that kind of cut their teeth together in the Minors, and are not trying to transcend into the core of that big league club.”
Rizzo, perhaps surprisingly, compared that to Anthony Rendon, who has made headlines more for his words than his on-field play since he left DC, but James Wood also has that quiet ‘lead by example’ type of swagger that the Nats had with Mr. National, Ryan Zimmerman, for years.
It would be nice to see a Nats outfield of Wood, Crews, and a certain Soto come next season, and of course, the Junks had to ask if Crews coming up when Soto and the Yankees were in town was an intentional move to maybe try to show Soto what it looks like here now.
And sorry, folks, it could’ve been any team in the other dugout this week.
“Total coincidence, believe it or not. We thought it was time for him to get here,” Rizzo said. “You don’t have to remind Juan what Washington is all about, he had the biggest moment of his life here. Speaking to him since then, those were moments and seasons he’ll never forget. He was adored by the fan base, and by his teammates, too; those guys protected a very young Soto like you’d protect your little brother, and he was loved and adored in that clubhouse. It’s hard not to like a guy with that kind of talent and smile and personality.”