Jay Johnson looks back on Dylan Crews' final home at-bat

LSU superstar Dylan Crews had a memorable final at bat at Alex Box Stadium. The potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 MLB draft drove in a pair of runs with a double to give the Tigers an 8-3 lead over Kentucky in the ninth inning of their eventual super regional win.

The victory sent LSU to the College World Series in what is all-but-assured to be the final home at bat for Crews in his college career.

LSU coach Jay Johnson recently appeared on Mik’d up with Mikie Mahtook podcast and discussed Dylan Crews final at bat at Alex Box Stadium.

“They had an open base, which gave you like 10 percent of thought that, ‘Hey, maybe they’re just going to walk him,’” Johnson recalled. “And it’s like, ‘This is Dylan, they can’t do that right now. The pitcher would not get out of that stadium alive right now.’ … Coach Mangione, man, he would have needed serious security if he intentionally walked him again.”

Instead, Kentucky pitched to Crews and he made them pay, lacing a 3-1 pitch to left field. Johnson had no doubt that Crews would come up clutch in the crucial moment.

“It was just one of those things where I could see it happen before it happened. And I’m going like, ‘He’s going to get one pitch in this at bat, and there’s no shot it’s going to be a foul ball or a swing and miss.’ And he hit a bullet, as only he can,” Johnson said. “I mean it’s just that special – Kobe Bryant, gamer, you know what’s going to happen before it happens. You talk about a postseason, these five games he’s put together are pretty amazing.”

On the year, Crews is batting .434 with 15 doubles, 17 home runs and 67 RBIs. Through five games in the NCAA Tournament, the junior is 11-for-19 with two homers and eight RBIs.

Johnson couldn’t say enough good things about Crews ahead of the College World Series opener for the Tigers on Saturday against Tennessee. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Omaha.

“The absolute standard of player and human being for the rest of time, at least as I’m a coach,” Johnson said. “There’s only one Dylan. And it was a very interesting situation right there where it was almost like, ‘Oh, this is happening right now. I already know how this is going to go.’”