Dylan Crews, Nationals' Outfielder, Stands Out in 2023 Draft Class with Individual Performance

In the midst of the 2025 regular season, Washington Nationals outfielder Dylan Crews will travel to Pittsburgh to face former college teammate Paul Skenes, a familiar face from their time playing for LSU baseball.

Skenes, a strong pitcher who was selected first overall in the 2023 draft, made a splash in his debut season with the Pirates. He was named Rookie of the Year and even started in the All-Star Game for the National League. Crews and Skenes were teammates for one season at LSU and also played together on Team USA. While they are friends and former workout partners, they will soon become opponents.

They will also inevitably be compared to each other, along with other highly-touted players from the 2023 draft class. Their first matchup was expected to happen last season, but it never came to fruition. However, Crews did hit a home run in a game where Skenes was in the opposing dugout.

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\"We've heard about it, but whenever it happens, we'll be ready for it,\" Crews said.

Skenes is scheduled to pitch against the Nationals on April 17, which will be the first time the former LSU teammates will face each other in the MLB.

At 22 years old, Crews is focused on taking his baseball journey one step at a time and staying present in the moment. He made his debut with the Nationals in 2024 and had a solid season, hitting .218 with three home runs, 12 stolen bases, and eight RBIs. He ended the season on a high note, going 6-for-10 in his final series.

This year, Crews is prepared to take on the role of everyday right fielder for the Nationals. He feels more comfortable and confident now that he knows what to expect.

Nationals manager Dave Martinez, a former outfielder himself, has high praise for Crews' defense, base-running instincts, and speed. Crews also came to camp with a noticeably thicker build, weighing in at 205 pounds.

Crews is just one of many promising prospects in the Nationals' camp. He is ranked fourth by MLB Pipeline among other top prospects like Roki Sasaki, Roman Anthony, and Walker Jenkins.

It will take more than just one season to determine the success of the 2023 draft class, as there are other players making a name for themselves. Wyatt Langford, the fourth overall pick, had a strong rookie season with the Rangers, hitting 16 home runs and collecting 126 hits.

Other notable players from the 2023 draft class include Max Clark, Matt Shaw, and Kyle Teel, who are all expected to make an impact in the MLB this season. Martinez believes that this draft class is special and is excited to have Crews as a part of it.