Dylan Crews - Fantasy Baseball Prospects Waiver Wire Stashes (Week 20)

BALLER MOVE: Must Own in Dynasty/Keeper Leagues, Stash in Deeper 12+ Team Leagues

CALL-UP ETA: September

ANALYSIS: Dylan Crews, the Washington Nationals' top outfield prospect (since James Wood hit the majors), has been raising eyebrows in the minor leagues. The 22-year-old, who was the second overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, is currently playing for the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings. Crews has shown tremendous potential, making him a promising stash for fantasy baseball managers.

Crews' journey from college standout at LSU to top prospect has been marked by consistent excellence. At LSU, he won the 2023 Golden Spikes Award, given to the best amateur baseball player in the country. His 2023 college season was exceptional, boasting a .426 batting average, .567 on-base percentage, and .713 slugging percentage, leading the Tigers to a College World Series championship.

Unfortunately, the Nationals are in no rush to start Crews' service time clock. They're out of contention this season, so burning a year of team control just doesn't make sense. Instead, look for Crews to make his debut when rosters expand in September. It's a classic move for teams in Washington's position, give the top prospect a taste of the big leagues without starting the service time countdown.

I guess you can say Dylan Crews'd into third base 🚢@RocRedWings | @Nationals | @Nats_PlayerDev pic.twitter.com/fBYfp2tGRt

— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) August 1, 2024

For fantasy managers, this means adjusting your strategy. In redraft leagues, Crews isn't a must-stash right now. Keep him on your watch list and be ready to pounce in late August if you need a boost for the fantasy playoffs. In dynasty and keeper leagues, however, Crews is a prize worth pursuing. His combination of power and speed, coupled with his impressive college pedigree, points to a bright future.

When September rolls around, Crews could provide a nice late-season spark for fantasy teams. Just don't expect everyday playing time right out of the gate. The Nationals will likely ease him in, but even in a part-time role, his talent could shine through.

More Fantasy Baseball Analysis

3 Fantasy Baseball Prospects Outlooks - Roman Anthony, Kumar Rocker, Jacob Wilson

Even though the regular season has just begun, it is never too early to begin stashing young prospects. Last season, several top prospects received an early MLB promotion and became must-start players during the remainder of the season, like Paul Skenes. In addition, some prospects even broke camp with the MLB roster and became top […]

Andy Smith 22 hours ago

Quinn Mathews, Rhett Lowder, Zebby Matthews - Fantasy Baseball Prospects Draft Values

Rookie starters rarely make a big splash in year one, but there is a talented crop of pitchers set to start in the minor leagues that could be impactful. Quinn Mathews, Rhett Lowder, and Zebby Matthews are all interesting fantasy baseball prospects this year, but which of these three can be considered "sleepers" at their […]

RotoBaller 7 days ago

Matt Shaw, Jordan Lawlar, Drake Baldwin - Fantasy Baseball Prospects Draft Values

Rookies don't always pay off their price tag in redraft leagues, but some prospects are teeming with so much upside that they are worth drafting in case they bust out in a big way. Matt Shaw, Jordan Lawlar, and Drake Baldwin are all interesting fantasy baseball prospects this year, but which of these three are […]

RotoBaller 7 days ago

Jackson Jobe, Bubba Chandler, Noah Schultz - Fantasy Baseball Prospects Draft Values

Rookie starters rarely make a big impact in year one, but there is a talented crop of pitchers set to start in the minor leagues that could come up and find success early. Jackson Jobe, Bubba Chandler, and Noah Schultz are all interesting fantasy baseball prospects this year, but which of these three can be […]

RotoBaller 1 week ago

Dylan Crews, Kristian Campbell, Jasson Dominguez - Fantasy Baseball Prospects Draft Values

Rookies don't always pay off their price tag in redraft leagues, but some prospects are teeming with so much upside that they are worth drafting in case they bust out in a big way. Dylan Crews, Kristian Campbell, and Jasson Dominguez are all interesting fantasy baseball prospects this year, but which of these three are […]

RotoBaller 1 week ago