MLB Network breaks down Dylan Crews’ swing: ‘You can’t deny the numbers’

LSU star Dylan Crews could be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 MLB draft after putting together an incredible junior season.

The outfielder is hitting .433 heading into the College World Series and has a .570 on-base percentage.

MLB Network analysts Mark DeRosa and Dan O’Dowd recently broke down Crews’ swing during a segment.

“One of my scouting absolutes is bat speed, and this dude creates it,” DeRosa said. “Dylan Crews, listen. I think after watching all the video of all the potential first-round picks, he is the safest play for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He’s going to be in the big leagues.”

DeRosa does feel that Crews needs to tweak his stance just a bit and not sink down quite as low in the batters box. But overall, there’s not much to complain about with Crews. He is balanced in the box, has excellent bad speed and has been arguably the best hitter in college baseball this season.

“This is going to have to change. I don’t think it’s going to be sustainable throughout his whole career. He’s going to put so much stress on his lower half and back knee that it’s going to be hard,” DeRosa said of his stance. “But you can’t deny the numbers at LSU. This is the SEC. This is powerhouse baseball at its finest. And he dominated it every weekend.”

This is the third consecutive incredible SEC season for Dylan Crews, who hit .362 with 18 home runs and 42 RBIs as a freshman. As a sophomore, Crews hit .349 with 22 homers and 72 RBIs. This has been his best season overall.

“I love the adjustment that Dylan did this year. He controlled the strike zone so much better than previous years. … I think he saw the ball so much longer and better this year,” O’Dowd said.

“My comp on him is a young Andrew McCutchen type player. I think he’s got a chance to be that type of player, which is a perennial all-star.”

MLB.com currently lists Crews as the top prospect for the upcoming draft. DeRosa believes it’s easy to see why.

“Chest is tall. Creates lag. Bat speed is there. … Great lag, great bat speed. You can’t teach bat speed. … This dude can flat play,” DeRosa said. “I also think don’t overthink it. To hit .420 in the SEC… to have a .600 on-base percentage in the best level of college baseball. … He’s completely dominated it.”

O’Dowd added that in addition to the talent that Crews possesses, he also likes his mindset he plays with.

“Dylan’s been a durable player. The other point I’m going to bring up is that one of the separators for me is competitiveness,” O’Dowd said. “You can have all the talent in the world, but man, you’ve got to be a competitor. And he competes really well.”