Selected in the first round (No. 2 overall) of the 2023 MLB Draft by the Washington Nationals out of Louisiana State University... signed with the Nationals on Aug. 3, 2023 and received a slot value $9 million signing bonus, which was the second-highest bonus in MLB Draft history... was one of two LSU players selected within the first two picks of the 2023 Draft, joining No. 1 overall pick Paul Skenes (Pirates)... was ranked by MLB.com as the No. 2 prospect in the 2023 Draft class, behind Skenes... generated some first-round buzz as a Florida high schooler in 2020 but ultimately withdrew from the Draft and had a decorated career at Louisiana State, where he led the Southeastern Conference with 163 total bases, set a school freshman record with 18 homers and earned National Freshman of the Year recognition in 2021... he encored by swatting 22 homers, sharing SEC player of the year honors and playing for the U.S. Collegiate National Team for a second straight summer before having his best season yet in 2023... led the Tigers to the College World Series championship, won the Golden Spikes Award and repeated as SEC player of the year while batting .426/.567/.713 and tying for the NCAA Division I lead with 71 walks... was a two-time member of the SEC Community Service Team for his exemplary work in the Baton Rouge area with families affected by autism... is the second LSU player to win the Golden Spikes Award (RHP Ben McDonald, 1989)... prior to LSU, he was ranked No. 13 in the country by Perfect Game and was the highest ranked player to attend college in 2020; was selected as a 2019 Perfect Game All-American Classic Player and a 2019 Under Armour All-American, voted the 2020 Seminole Athletic Conference Player of the Year, participated in the 2016 Perfect Game 14U Select Festival and was a Team USA 14U and 18U Gold Medal Winner... was a four-year letterman at Lake Mary High School... parents are George and Kim Crews; his mom is a nurse and his dad owns a commercial printing business; has one younger sister, Lyndsee... born in Altamonte Springs, Fla... ranked by MLB.com as the Nationals' No. 1 prospect after the 2023 Draft
2023
Joined the Nationals' Florida Complex League squad to begin his career in August before quickly moving up to Fredericksburg in the Carolina League... the Nationals promoted him again on Aug. 22 to Double-A Harrisburg
Awards & Honors at LSU
2023 Golden Spikes Award Winner
2023 Consensus First-Team All-American
2023 College World Series All-Tournament Team
2023 NCAA Regional All-Tournament Team
2023 SEC Male Athlete of the Year
2023 SEC Player of the Year
2023 First-Team All-SEC
2023 SEC All-Defensive Team
2023 ABCA Gold Glove Team
2023 SEC Academic Honor Roll
2023 SEC Community Service Team
2023 LSWA Louisiana Hitter of the Year
SEC Player of the Week (May 1, March 27, Feb. 27, 2023)
Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week (March 27, 2023)
2022 Consensus First-Team All-American
2022 SEC Co-Player of the Year
2022 Golden Spikes Award Semifinalist
2022 First-Team All-SEC
2022 SEC All-Defensive Team
2022 SEC Community Service Team
SEC Co-Player of the Week (May 9, 2022)
2022 First-Team ABCA All-South Region
2022 NCAA Hattiesburg Regional All-Tournament Team
2022 LSWA Hitter of the Year
2022 U.S. Collegiate National Team Member
2021 Perfect Game National Freshman of the Year
Double-A Affiliate
