Baseball America Nats No. 4 prospect: RHP Wil Crowe

By Byron Kerr

Nationals

February 25, 2020, 2:11am

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The Nationals started Wil Crowe, one of their top prospects, in Monday's Grapefruit League matchup against the Mets. The right-hander (0-1) allowed a second-inning solo homer to Wilson Ramos, but pitched two innings with that one hit, one strikeout and no walks allowed in the 2-1 loss.

Crowe displayed outstanding endurance in 2019 with 26 starts, between Double-A and Triple-A, going 7-10 with a 4.70 ERA with 130 strikeouts over 149 1/3 innings, just 48 walks and his WHIP at 1.33.

The 25-year-old, who pitched collegiately at South Carolina, is No. 4 in Baseball America's Nats top 10 prospects.

No. 4 Wil Crowe

Baseball America Nats correspondent Lacy Lusk told me Crowe could fill that utility role we have seen in the past from Austin Voth or Erick Fedde come 2020.

"There's a good chance his major league debut will come this year," Lusk said. "I think his stuff is a tick behind (Voth, Joe Ross and Fedde), the guys out for the No. 5 starting spot. After pitching really well in Harrisburg, he battled at Triple-A Fresno where everyone, even the guy they protected, Ben Braymer, had numbers that you wouldn't want to take home with you. I would think if he gets off to a decent start and they need someone to make a spot start, he'd be the first candidate."

I caught up with Crowe last spring training, and the 2017 second-round selection told me he was completely healthy coming into 2019 and that helped to contribute to close to 30 starts. Getting a start this early in camp will hopefully help him get a taste of major league hitters so he will be ready for potential big league opportunity this season.