Dylan
Crews

Dylan Crews was Dylan Crews at the Karbach Classic. He’s simply the best player in college baseball and the consensus pick to go 1-1. The baseball draft is largely imperfect, so he may not be selected there (“signability” and agents create a fuzzy situation at times), but his combination of skills and tools are the best in a collegian since Adley Rutschman in 2019. There are many reasons Crews was nicknamed “Baby Trout” as a prep prospect. His plus speed plays on defense with plus to better range when combined with excellent routes, and it also plays on the base paths with his natural aggressiveness of getting to the next base. His better than average arm is also accurate and overall he’s a plus defender with a near lock chance of staying in center field. At the plate his ridiculous bat speed is obvious to a veteran scout or just a middle school-aged baseball fan. It produces plus-plus raw power and the ball jumps off his bat to all fields. Crews’ swing is fairly flat and his approach is selective. He’s just not up there taking hacks. He adjusted pitch to pitch and took polished, mature at-bats throughout the weekend, finishing 9-for-13 with 7 RBI. He saved his best for Sunday with a 5-for-6, 3 2B, 5 RBI performance against Sam Houston State. With continued good health and barring a major (unlikely) change in his hitting approach, Crews is a lock for No. 1 overall on my draft board.

USA CNT: As far as impact bats go, Crews carried with him perhaps the highest ceiling of any stick on the Collegiate National Team, thanks to double-plus raw power, a strong feel for the strike zone, and a penchant for “I’m going to hit this to the moon”-type swings, regardless of count. Through his first two seasons at LSU Crews has already launched 40 home runs and, in the second game of the Stars vs. Stripes series during CNT Trials in Durham/Charlotte, Crews put that explosiveness on full display, sending a tummy-high fastball over the giant “bull board” atop the already massive 32-foot left field fence at DBAP. Largely pitched around throughout the Honkbalweek Haarlem tournament, Crews did well to work his share of walks, but also found himself pressing some with those big cuts and racking-up strikeouts in almost a third of his at bats. His swing generates massive amounts of energy and he loses almost none of it through impact thanks to a powerful core, strong front side, and a compact swing capable of delivering the barrel with deadly force to any part of the zone. His monster cuts can find him swinging through pitches at times — particularly softer stuff late in the count — but the aggregate profile points to a corner power bat that should draw walks and hit nukes while providing solid play on the grass. Pro clubs will focus on the whiff rate and approach next spring, with a good showing placing him in discussions for the top overall talent in the class. He’s already penciled in as a likely first round selection for next summer, regardless.

Possessing elite athleticism, the No. 1 college prospect for the 2023 draft projects to have a similar skill set to Mike Trout. With huge bat speed, the right handed masher looked super comfy in the batter's box this past weekend. Homering in his first at-bat on Friday, the ball left his bat with an exit velocity of 109 mph. Later in this game he would also triple (101 EV), line out (111 EV) and ground into a double play (105 EV). His line out nearly dismembered the glove hand of Towson second baseman Nolan Young. Crews finished the weekend 8-for-15 with a nine RBI and also recorded several more triple digit EVs ranging from 102-110 mph. A plus-plus straight line runner, Crews also shows elite acceleration and it plays in the game with great jumps on the base paths, as well in center field where he can just flat go and get it. He has all the abilities and intangibles to become a perennial all-star talent at the Major League level.

Before my arrival in Appalachia to scout the CNT, the 6-foot, 200-pound Crews sustained non-serious injuries after running into the outfield wall and was sent home out of an abundance of caution. A D1Baseball Freshman All-American, Crews is a super athletic, five-tool, middle of the diamond talent. As a true freshman in 2021 for LSU, he answered the industry’s swing/miss concerns that were raised during the summer circuit previous to his senior year in high school. With a .362/.453/.663 slash, 18 home runs, 12 stolen bases and 39 walks vs 44 strikeouts this past spring, he is currently the top college prospect for the 2023 draft.

LSU recruit, the No. 1 player in Florida reinforced that notion at the Preseason All State. If you were looking for a potential flaw in his game, it may have been his run tool, previously running a 7.2 at last year's event. This year, in very tough conditions, put up a 6.93, with added strength throughout the frame and the look of an above average runner. Defensively, he moves well in the outfield and looks like he could potentially stick in center. If not though, the bat continues to prove it can hold up anywhere. The added strength has translated to power. The swing is balanced and simple, efficiently using the strong lower half. Advanced approach, driving balls with power from gap to gap. Overall it is a true above average with plus potential hit tool and potential above average power. The bat has been consistent for a long time, but the added strength and athleticism will have him in contention as one of, if not the top players in the country in 2020.

LSU commit. 6-foot-1, 180-pound right-handed outfielder, loose, lean athletic build, makes everything look easy. Offensively, immediate presence in the box, presently attacks balls with a line drive approach, driving it to all fields. With continued physical maturity, more and more power will come. Has an advanced fee for the zone, does not chase, fouls pitches off to keep at-bats alive, consistently finds the barrel. Capped his weekend off with a two-run home run to right field. Ran a 7.00 60. One of the few 2020s in attendance, performed as one of the top prospects.

Louisiana State recruit. Currently stands at 6-foot, 173 pounds with a lean, athletic frame.  Offensively, he commands the batter’s box with a quick and powerful swing to all fields with more power to come as he continues to fill out his frame. The present hit tool is plus and consistently dins the barrel in both batting practice and game. He also shows above average power and could develop into plus power.  Registered an exit velocity of 87 mph in the cage. From the outfield, he fielded the ball out in front and under control with accuracy to his targets. Outfield velocity came in at 83 mph. 60 yard dash time came in at 7.20 seconds. Feel for the game is extremely high with advanced toolset and extremely high upside. 

LSU commit. He continues to fill out while remaining athletic. Moves well and looks to project in center field. The bat is his calling card and with the added 10-15 lbs of muscle, he is beginning to add to his plus hit tool with above average power potential.

Crews has established himself as arguably the top right-handed hitter in the 2020 class. He further solidified his status Saturday when the 5-foot-11 LSU recruit effortlessly turned on a pair of 90-mph fastballs for sharply hit singles.

Committed to Louisiana State University.

Extremely athletic and looks to have added some muscle since January. In the outfield, he runs through an outfield workout with everything you’d like to see. Fielding the ball in stride with a quick transfer he has low, accurate throws with carry and topped out at 83 mph. Behind the plate, he is very athletic, a little less polished than the outfield, but he hands work well and is flexible with a lot of potential. Offensively he is well above average for his class with both hit and power tools. There is still a lot of room to grow and fill out. He has a path that keeps him the zone a long time with a lot of whip and bat speed through the zone. He creates quality leverage with a feel for the barrel and big power potential.

One of the only 2020's on his team, the athletic outfielder does not only fit in, but stands out. He still looks young, but has an advanced approach with a level swing and feel for the barrel. He has plenty of athleticism with a quality gate and projects to be an above average hitter.

The uncommitted freshman stands at 5-foot-11, 160 pounds and hits from the right side. During the game he crushed a double as well as a single. He shows an advanced approach, especially for his age. With a great lower half, he generates present with power and projects to have above average to plus power as he fills out. He consistently found the barrel in batting practice generating hard line drive after line drive. He is athletic enough to play the outfield and moved around well. Behind the plate he also showed his athleticism with pop times ranging 2.02-2.07. He is athletic enough to project at either position, but the advanced bat and present feel for the barrel already translates into the game and he will continue to get better as he fills out.

Stands at 5-foot-10, 155 pounds with a lean, projectable, athletic build. Displays good instincts. At the plate, bends his knees slightly inward with a step for his load. Keeps his weight back and drives his hands through the zone with use of his lower half. Follows through on the ball and shows a good bat path that produces line drives into the gaps. One of the top prospects in his class will continue to be a high follow and he fills out and matures.

Stands at 5-foot-10, 175 pounds with a lean, athletic build. Stood out from behind the plate with a quick release and accurate throws down to second base. Moves well, shows athleticism. Also shows good range in the outfield. Squared up the ball multiple times during batting practice. Ball jumps off the bat. Good instincts. High follow.