Dylan Crews Is Walking More, Hitting Harder, and Still Available in 65% of Leagues
Dylan Crews just posted a 14.8% walk rate over the last seven days — up from 4.8% over the prior 30 days. That's not a small fluctuation. That's a completely different hitter showing up at the plate, one who's commanding the zone and forcing pitchers to come to him. Combined with a .311 wOBA over the past week and a hard-hit rate of 59.2%, Crews is flashing the kind of approach-plus-power combination that made him the No. 2 overall pick in 2023.
WaiverScout's verdict: Add Now.
The Rolling Window Tells the Story
The 30-day numbers for Crews look pedestrian — a .229 average, a .297 wOBA, and a walk rate of just 4.8% across 104 PA. That's the player most managers are seeing when they scroll past him on the wire. But zoom in and the trajectory is unmistakable.
Over the last 14 days (47 PA), Crews slashed .310 with a .364 wOBA, a 69.5% hard-hit rate, and a 96.1 mph average exit velocity. That hard-hit number is elite by any standard. The most recent seven-day window shows his average exit velocity settling at 91.0 mph with a 59.2% hard-hit rate — still well above the 30-day baseline — while his plate discipline has taken a massive leap forward with that 14.8% walk rate.
He's also contributing on the basepaths with 2 stolen bases in the last week and 3 over the past 30 days. The power has been quiet in the most recent stretch (0 HR in the last 7 days), but 4 homers over the 30-day window with improving contact quality suggests more are coming.
The Approach Change Is Real
The walk rate spike is the most important signal here. A 4.8% walk rate over 30 days suggested a hitter who was expanding the zone and chasing. A 14.8% walk rate over the last week — across 27 PA, a solid sample — suggests a fundamental recalibration. Crews drew 2 walks in his most recent game alone, going 2-for-3 with just 1 strikeout. His K% has held steady at 22.2% over the past week, meaning he's walking more without sacrificing contact.
This matters because early-career plate discipline improvements tend to be sticky. When a young hitter starts taking his walks, the power numbers follow. The hard-hit quality is already there to support it.
WaiverScout Called This Early
We first flagged Crews as an Add Now back on June 15 when he was rostered in just 29% of leagues. We reiterated the call on June 23 at 30% ownership. The signal has only strengthened since. Before that, we had him classified as a deprioritize in late May — we're not afraid to change our stance when the data shifts, and it shifted decisively.
Fantasy Alarm recently highlighted Crews as a waiver wire target heading into Week 14, and the broader fantasy community is starting to catch on. Remember, this is a player who was optioned to Triple-A earlier this season and written off by many managers. The narrative has flipped, but his 35% roster rate hasn't caught up yet.
The Verdict: Add Now
At 35% rostered, Crews is available in nearly two-thirds of leagues. He's getting consistent playing time (27 PA in the last 7 days), the skills metrics support the recent production, and his plate discipline transformation is the kind of development that unlocks everything else for a former top-2 pick. The data is clear.
If you need outfield upside, Crews belongs on your roster ahead of players like Carson Benge or other fringe options. This is a 24-year-old with elite pedigree whose approach just clicked. Don't wait for 50% ownership to confirm what the numbers already tell you.