Detroit Tigers 2023 MLB Draft Profile: OF Dylan Crews

Dylan Crews might be the best player in the 2023 MLB Draft

The Detroit Tigers have the third overall pick in next month's 2023 MLB Draft. They are likely going to get a very good player no matter who they pick. There's even a chance they pick who some consider to be the best player in the draft, and that's LSU OF Dylan Crews.

Crews was once the consensus top pick in the draft before other players started making a push for that top spot. Crews has still had an amazing 2023 season for the Tigers, though—LSU, not the Detroit Tigers.

He has serious five-tool potential. I personally think it would be crazy that a team would pass on him with the No. 1 pick, but that's the latest rumor. We'll dive into that a little later, but for now, let's see what Crews is all about.

Background

Crews is a native of Florida and went to Lake Mary High School, where he started getting some first-round buzz. He ultimately attended LSU, where he has had a stellar career.

The 6'0, 205 lb Crews has a career slash line of .379/.496/.695 with a 1.191 OPS and two more walks (142) than strikeouts (140) in three seasons for the Tigers. His 2023 season has been one for the ages, as he is currently slashing .432/.573/.736 with 17 home runs.

He's been named SEC Player of the Year each of the last two seasons. He's just a special talent.

Strengths

Crews has a quick bat, which generates high exit velocities and tons of power. He hits the ball to all fields.

Here's what Fangraphs has to say about Crews:

"He was immediately dominant as a freshman at LSU, generating exit velos in excess of 100 mph on 17 of his first 30 balls in play, and finishing with a .362/.453/.663 line that included 18 bombs. He followed that up by slashing .349/.463/.691 and hitting 22 homers as a sophomore. Crews can punish you to all fields. He'll get extended on fastballs away from him and crush them the opposite way, or he can turn on pitches on the middle two-thirds of the plate and hit some titanic blasts to left."

- Fangraphs

His bat is his best tool, but one area he's improved in is his speed. He gets out of the box quickly and will steal some bases. MLB Pipeline rates his hit tool as a 70 and his speed as a 60 on the 20-80 scale.

Weaknesses

There have always been two main concerns with Crews's game, one of which he's already addressed, and that's strikeouts and swing-and-miss. He's cut down on those significantly this year, currently having 61 walks to just 40 strikeouts. That's a very promising sign.

The other concern still remains, and that's his defense in the outfield. Scouts say his reads in center field aren't very good, so he projects as a corner outfielder long term. Fangraphs has this exact concern. It's not a huge deal as long as he's better in the corners than he is in CF.

Fit with Detroit Tigers

The Detroit Tigers need an impact bat in their farm system. Crews definitely fits that mold. He'd be a fantastic addition to their farm system, and perhaps now more than ever, there's actually a chance the Tigers could land him.

ESPN's Kiley McDaniel reported last week ($$$) that the Pittsburgh Pirates are looking to sign somebody underslot with the No. 1 overall pick. The most popular name is Indiana prep OF Max Clark.

If Crews doesn't go 1:1, there's obviously a much larger chance he falls to the Tigers at No. 3. All they can do is hope the Washington Nationals pass on him at No. 2.