The Washington Nationals are set to recall outfielder Dylan Crews from Triple-A Rochester ahead of the second game of their series against the New York Mets. Mark Zuckerman of Nats Journal reports the move is already in motion and Crews will join the club in D.C. for the matchup.
The call-up comes as a result of Washington’s planned roster adjustment, though it coincides with a key injury scare. Center fielder Jacob Young was struck in the midsection by a 93 mph fastball from Mets starter Christian Scott during Tuesday’s game and was replaced by Joey Wiemer. While the extent of Young’s injury is still unclear, the timing of the Crews promotion appears to be prearranged.
Crews is making his first MLB appearance of the 2026 season after being optioned at the end of Spring Training. During camp, he struggled mightily, striking out 11 times in 34 plate appearances and collecting only three hits, all singles. That followed a .208/.280/.352 line in his rookie season in 2025.
Despite the early struggles, Crews has turned his season around in May. In 14 games at Triple-A, he hit .291/.339/.527 with seven doubles and two home runs. He still strikes out in 25% of his plate appearances, but his recent production has convinced Washington he’s ready for another big league chance.
The Nationals can justify the move based on Crews’ performance in Triple-A, but they are also aware of the service time implications. Crews entered the season with one year and 35 days of MLB service and needed 137 days on the big league roster to reach the two-year threshold. With only 132 days remaining in the season, he will fall short, pushing his potential free agency eligibility to the 2031-32 offseason at the earliest.
Crews could see time in right field or center field, especially if Young is sidelined. The Nationals have options in the outfield, with James Wood and Daylen Lile entrenched in the lineup. If needed, they could rotate through a DH spot split between Jorbit Vivas and José Tena.
The Nationals will host the Mets in the second game of their series Thursday with Crews now in the fold. Washington will monitor Young’s status and decide if a longer IL stint is necessary.
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