Sept. 14 – Washington Nationals outfielder Dylan Cruz showed why he is rated the No. 1 prospect in baseball.
As the 2023 Golden Spikes Award winner for America’s top amateur player, Cruz did not make his major league debut until August 26. .
In the first inning of Friday night’s 4-1 win over the visiting Miami Marlins, Cruz made a spectacular leaping single over the wall off Connor Norby to tie the series at one game apiece. He then beat out a routine grounder to lead off the bottom of the inning, stole second and third, and eventually scored on an error.
In the first two games of the series, which continues Saturday afternoon, Crews went 3 for 8 with two runs, three stolen bases and a Gold Glove-level catch.
“The right-side staff is killing us,” Miami coach Skip Schumaker said. “That kid is a special player. What he did at such a young age … I mean, I saw him (play) in college last year.”
The Nationals selected Crews with the second overall pick in 2023, followed by his LSU teammate and Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skeens.
Washington manager Dave Martinez is pleased to have Cruz on the major league roster.
“He’s playing the game the right way,” Martinez said, adding that he believed Cruz’s raucous solo “got everybody excited.
“I mean, it was a regular grounder and he got to the baseline and he knocked it down. People were really cheering in that inning. And then it was a trickle-down effect. I saw all the people cheering. After he hits the ball, he runs really hard to the baseline.
Crews hit .242 in 62 at-bats this season, including three home runs, eight RBIs and eight stolen bases. He looks like he could be the cornerstone of a rebuilding Nationals team.
“The way he plays, and the way some other guys play, that’s what we’re looking for,” Martinez said. “When he plays like that, I think it inspires other guys to do the same thing. That happens. I like that. I told him no matter what happens, don’t change who you are. You can be a 1 for 30 guy or a 30 for 30 guy; you just keep running the bases.”
With Friday night’s win, Washington improved to 9-2 on the season against Miami and will start Saturday’s game against veteran left-hander Patrick Corbin (5-13, 5.60 ERA). Corbin has made 20 career starts against the Marlins and is 6-7 with a 4.17 ERA. He has won three of his last four starts, including a 6-2 win over Miami on Sept. 3.
The Marlins will face rookie right-hander Valente Bellozzo (2-3, 3.57 ERA), who will make his 11th big league start. This will be Bellozzo’s second start against Washington. On Sept. 4, he received a no-decision despite allowing just three hits in six scoreless innings in Miami’s 4-3 win over the Nationals.
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