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The Washington Nationals continue their youth movement by promoting their top prospect.
Dylan Crews, the No. 2 overall selection in the 2023 MLB Draft, will be called up by the Nationals on Monday, according to Grant Paulsen of 106.7 The Fan. The plan is for Crews to debut when Washington hosts the New York Yankees.
Sources: Nationals top prospect Dylan Crews is expected to be called up to make his MLB debut in DC on Monday night against the Yankees.
Crews and Wood, together at Nationals Park for the first time, opposing Juan Soto and the Yankees.
— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) August 23, 2024
Only Pittsburgh Pirates pitching phenom Paul Skenes was selected ahead of Crews in the draft. Crews was viewed as the second-best prospect and best position player. He has not disappointed in the minors, hitting .271 with eight home runs in 48 games at Triple-A this season.
Fellow top prospect James Wood also debuted this year. The organization appears to have a bright future, and they are starting to display it.
More must-reads:
- The best minor leaguers never to enjoy MLB success
- Injured Phillies pitcher takes big step toward return
- The 'No. 2 MLB Draft pick' quiz
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Royals acquire outfield help in perplexing trade with Diamondbacks
The Kansas City Royals were hoping to bolster their outfield ahead of the July 31 trade deadline. They were able to do just that in a trade on Saturday. Steve Gilbert from MLB.com reported that the Royals have acquired outfielder Randal Grichuk from the Arizona Diamondbacks. Mark Feinsand from MLB.com reported that relief pitcher Andrew Hoffman will head to Arizona in exchange for Grichuk. The Royals desperately needed help in their outfield. Royals outfielders had been the worst in the majors, posting an atrocious .219/.273/.328 batting line with just 19 home runs entering Saturday's action. Although Grichuk is in the midst of a disappointing season himself, he is an immediate upgrade over whatever the Royals have sent into the outfield. Grichuk had posted a .243/.280/.462 batting line in 186 plate appearances entering Saturday, hitting seven homers and 15 doubles. In exchange, the Diamondbacks receive Hoffman, who FanGraphs ranked as the Royals' 22nd-best prospect entering the season. His upper-90s fastball and new kick change are both considered plus offerings, although his ability to command his arsenal is questionable at best. Hoffman's potential and flaws were evident this season. He made his major league debut for the Royals, allowing six runs, two earned, on seven hits and four walks over 4.2 innings, striking out five. However, Hoffman had dominated at Triple-A, posting a 3.60 ERA and a 1.125 WHiP over his 40 innings, striking out 55 batters with just 10 walks. He is another intriguing addition for a Diamondbacks team that has prioritized pitching in their two trades thus far. The same upside does not exist for the Royals. Kansas City had the same record as the Diamondbacks entering the second game of their doubleheader against the Guardians. Grichuk signed a one-year contract with $5 million guaranteed for 2025. There is a mutual option worth $5 million, with a $3 million buyout, for 2026. Theoretically, Grichuk could be part of the Royals' plans next season. However, mutual options are rarely picked up. As the Royals are currently under .500 and need to pass four teams in the standings to seize the final wild-card spot, adding a rental option does not make sense. It is possible that both sides can work out an arrangement for 2026, but unless that happens, the Royals' latest move is questionable at best.
Browns make curious decision with rookie QB Shedeur Sanders
The Cleveland Browns are giving Shedeur Sanders special treatment in training camp, but it's not the type of favoritism the fifth-round pick would necessarily want. Per Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN, Sanders is the only Browns quarterback who has not been taking reps with the first-team offense during OTAs or the first two practices of training camp. Former Pittsburgh Steelers first-round pick Kenny Pickett, veteran Joe Flacco and rookie Dillon Gabriel have all split reps with the first team. Despite being asked to throw passes to members of the equipment staff amid a shortage of professional pass-catchers for a four-quarterback roster, Sanders said he's thankful for the opportunity to show the Browns coaching staff his talents. "I feel like that it's not in my control, so I'm not going to think about that or even have that in my thought process of why it is," Sanders said to a question as to why he's not getting first-team reps. "There's a lot of people who want to have the opportunity to be at this level, and I'm here and I'm thankful to have the opportunity. So, whenever that is, that is." Sanders, 23, believes that he can contribute more to the Browns than what the coaching staff is asking of him. "It doesn't make me feel down or left out because I know who I am as a person," Sanders said. "I know who I am as an individual and I know what I could bring to this team. So, I can never feel less than any circumstance." The Browns selected Sanders with the No. 144 pick in April's draft. As a player whom many draft analysts thought was a first-round talent, Cleveland took what could be the steal of the draft in the fifth round. It's curious why the Browns aren't giving Sanders a shot with the first team early in training camp before the quarterback race becomes more serious. Cleveland should see what Sanders has to offer this summer. Flacco, 40, isn't a long-term solution at the position. Pickett failed in Pittsburgh. The Browns need to gauge what rookies Gabriel and Sanders can do with the first team. Having Sanders throw balls to the equipment staff is a waste of everyone's time. But then again, Cleveland has wasted plenty of quarterbacks.
Quinn Ewers’ Camp Performance Forces Dolphins Into Tough QB Decision
Being the backup quarterback isn't necessarily the most exciting role for anyone, but for a team like the Miami Dolphins, where starter Tua Tagovailoa has suffered four concussions since entering the NFL in 2020, it could be vital. As of now, a clear battle for that spot has formed between rookie seventh-round pick Quinn Ewers and veteran former first-round selection Zach Wilson as they go head-to-head. Of course, training camp is where these kinds of questions can be solved, and so far, it appears that Ewers has done a good job in putting his best foot forward. On Friday, David Furones of the Sun Sentinel gave a very positive update on the young quarterback, stating, "Dolphins rookie QB Quinn Ewers had a strong third practice of training camp. Made several impressive, big-time throws." The update sparked conversations among many fans, both supporting Ewers and a serious showing that there's interest in seeing who comes out on top. "Show ‘em, Quinn," said one comment. "He just does a lot of things (anticipatory throws, timing throws, MOTF accuracy, etc.) that fit this system much better than what Wilson does. I think with refinement and development we could have a backup in Miami that can operate the offense efficiently…finally," said another. "Love to hear it!" a third added. A fourth stated, "I'd be surprised if he's not the backup.." "I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Quinn Ewers has the physical tools to stick at the next level. It’s just a matter of shaping the rest," a fifth continued. "That’s QB2 potential QB1 in the future Glad we drafted Ewers," said another. Another big test for both Ewers and Wilson will be during the Dolphins' three preseason games, as the coaching staff will get a much better look at how these two perform during live matchups. Luckily for both, though, being the backup is all they're truly fighting for, as Kyle Crabbs of A to Z Sports predicts that each will make the final 53-man roster, with cuts needing to be made by Aug. 27.
Three budding NFL stars who need more opportunities in 2025
Training camp is underway, and the dawn of the 2025 NFL season is quickly coming into view. As the reigning Super Bowl champion Eagles emphasized this week, the new league year provides a fresh slate for every team and a new chapter for each player. For rising NFL talents, the 2025 campaign could be a springboard toward stardom. Let's take a look at three budding stars who deserve more playing time in the upcoming season. Bengals RB Chase Brown With the superstar receiver tandem of Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins commanding major attention from opposing defenses, Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown could be in store for a huge year. Brown, 25, finished the season strong after wrestling the starting role away from veteran rusher Zack Moss after a month as the reserve. From Week 5 onward, the Bengals ball-carrier rushed for 806 yards, which was the sixth-highest total of any AFC rusher. He was one of seven running backs to record 3+ receptions in at least 10 games. In his last 8 games, Brown averaged 116 scrimmage yards. That projects to 1,976 over 17 games, which would have been the third-most in the NFL last year. Proving valuable as a rusher and receiver, Brown should be a core piece of the Bengals' vaunted offense moving forward. “Brown is going to be one of the focal points of our offense because he deserves to be,” Pitcher added. Entering the year as a starter for the first time in his career, Brown could be in store for a breakout season in 2025. "Chase Brown is going to be, by the end of the season, a household name," Bengals OC Dan Pitcher said during training camp. "He's everything that Austin Ekeler was. You'll all know who he is." Lions WR Jameson Williams Williams, a former Detroit Lions first-rounder, was one of the league's most dynamic players in 2024. The speedy wideout had six 40+ yard receptions, the third-most in the NFL. Only Ja'Marr Chase, Brian Thomas and Alec Pierce had more. Williams, 24, has game-breaking speed similar to Tyreek Hill and DeSean Jackson and could sprint toward stardom in 2025. In just 11 starts, he was one of 24 wideouts with a 1,000-yard season in 2024. Slated for increased playing time in 2025, Williams could erupt in Detroit. Jayden Reed Last season was a mixed bag for the Green Bay Packers wideout Reed. He erupted for 168 yards and two touchdowns in the season opener against the Eagles in Brazil. Three weeks later, Reed stuffed the stat sheet once more and posted 139 receiving yards and a touchdown in a divisional matchup against Minnesota. Following his hot start, Reed never drew more than six targets after Week 4 and seemingly tumbled down the Packers' pecking order. The 25-year-old receiver was used almost exclusively in three-receiver sets, playing just 63% of the snaps. Despite his lack of playing time, the 5-foot-11 wideout led Green Bay in receiving yards (857) and was second in receiving touchdowns (6). Additionally, Reed caught nine of 11 targets of 25+ air yards, proving himself a capable deep threat for Jordan Love and the Packers. Even after selecting Texas wideout Matthew Golden in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Packers must find ways to feature Reed more often.
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