As September rolls in, the Nationals might be officially out of the playoff hunt, but don’t tell these guys the games are meaningless. For a crucial trio of players, this month is everything. Dylan Crews, Harry Ford, and Abimelec Ortiz are all fighting to prove they belong for the 2027 season and beyond. Their futures in Washington could be decided by how they finish up these final weeks.
Crews’ Inconsistent Flashes Are a Problem
Dylan Crews, the highest profile of the bunch, has had a career that’s been one step forward, two steps back. We’ve seen flashes of the talent that made him the number two overall pick, like that game-winning walk-off single against the Marlins on August 29. That should have been a turning point, a momentum builder! But what happened in the three games since? Crews is hitless. It’s the story of his whole Nationals career, honestly. The talent is there, but the consistency just isn’t. His season numbers are a brutal .216 batting average with a .643 OPS. And his career? A .213 hitter with a .638 OPS over 741 at bats. That’s just not good enough for an everyday player. James Wood, Daylen Lile, and Jacob Young have all shown more. Crews needs to channel his July form, where he posted an OPS over .800. If he can do that again in September, it might save his everyday playing time. Otherwise, time is truly running out for the former LSU star. You have to wonder if a change of scenery might be best for everyone involved, potentially making him a trade chip this offseason.
Harry Ford’s Uphill Battle Continues
Harry Ford hasn’t had the same amount of big league time as Crews, but his year has been just as tough. When the Nats traded for Ford in the offseason, many, including myself, figured he’d step right in as the starting catcher. Nope. Keibert Ruiz re-established himself, and Ford hasn’t found the power he showed last year. He started the year in Rochester and had a brutal April, posting a .531 OPS. Talk about an uphill climb! To his credit, he fought his way back, getting better every single month. By June and July, his OPS was over .800 in both months, earning him a call-up to the big leagues. But so far, his big league stint has been a mixed bag. He needs to figure it out quickly and show that consistent offensive spark.
This September isn’t just about finishing the season; it’s about proving you belong. Crews and Ford have a massive opportunity in these final games to show the Nationals’ front office that they are part of the future, not just a fleeting glimpse of potential.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply