Dylan Crews, a prep outfielder from Florida, opted out of the MLB draft on Tuesday, according to multiple reports. Baseball America first reported the news.
The MLB draft is set for June 10-11. Crews is a Louisiana State commit. He had a large signing bonus demand and major league teams likely would not have met that request, according to sources. He was projected to be a second-round pick in this year’s draft.
Professional scouts considered Crews as one of the top players in the prep class a year ago at this time. But Crews struggled on the showcase circuit last summer, displaying some swing-and-miss concerns, which caused his draft status to slip.
When Crews is at his best, the right-handed hitter he can hit for average and power. Defensively, the high school center fielder has a strong arm and decent speed. He profiles as a corner outfielder in pro ball.
If he remains at the NCAA level throughout his collegiate career, Crews won’t be eligible for the draft until 2023.
Dan Zielinski III has covered the MLB draft for five years. He’s interviewed 191 of the top draft prospects in that period, including three No. 1 overall picks. Multiple publications, including Baseball America, USA Today and The Arizona Republic, have quoted his work, while he’s appeared on radio stations as a “MLB draft expert.” Follow him on Twitter @DanZielinski3.
