​WASHINGTON, DC — JULY 8: Dylan Crews #3 of the Washington Nationals cannot come up with a ball hit by Zach Dezenzo #9 of the Houston Astros during the eighth inning at Nationals Park on July 8, 2026, in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As the Washington Nationals move into the second half of the season, there are several players and storylines worth keeping a close eye on. The Nationals’ offense has been one of the biggest bright spots of the year, producing at a level that has helped change the tone around the team. Still, if Washington wants to remove any remaining questions about whether this offensive surge is sustainable, the lineup will need to continue delivering after the All-Star break.
With that in mind, three Nationals hitters stand out as especially important to monitor in the second half. Each player has something different to prove, but all of them could play a major role in shaping how the rest of the season unfolds and how the organization evaluates its future.
The second half could be the most important stretch of Dylan Crews’ young major league career. It may not be a true make-or-break period, but it feels close. Crews arrived with massive expectations after being selected second overall and building one of the most decorated college careers of any hitter this century. At LSU, he was a star in every sense of the word, combining elite production, impressive tools and a reputation as one of the safest bats in his draft class.
So far, however, that college dominance has not carried over to the major leagues.
Since being called up in mid-May, Crews has hit just .211 with a .613 OPS. There have been flashes that remind everyone why he was such a highly regarded prospect, but the overall pattern has remained frustrating. For much of his professional career, it has felt like one step forward followed by two steps back. Through 163 career big league games, Crews owns a .211 batting average and a .627 OPS. He has provided some power and speed, with 19 home runs and 34 stolen bases, but that production has not been enough to offset the lack of consistent hitting.
The contrast between Crews’ college numbers and his major league production is startling. His wRC+ during three seasons at LSU was 162 in 2021, 154 in 2022 and 182 in 2023. In the majors, that number has dropped dramatically, sitting at 80 in 2024, 78 in 2025 and 73 in 2026. For a player who was once viewed as having a 70-grade hit tool and 60-grade power by MLB Pipeline, the falloff has been difficult to ignore.
The raw ability is still there. Crews still has athleticism, bat speed, power potential and defensive value. But at some point, potential has to turn into steady production. Right now, his confidence appears shaky, and in the weeks leading into the break, he seemed to be drifting back into some bad habits at the plate.
The Nationals have also shown they are willing to move on from talented players who are not progressing. Paul Toboni recently dealt Robert Hassell III for cash, proving that prospect pedigree alone will not guarantee a long leash. If Crews wants to avoid a similar fate, he needs to begin turning things around quickly.
If the former LSU standout continues to struggle through the second half, his place in the Nationals’ long-term outfield picture could become much less secure heading into 2027. For a player once viewed as a cornerstone piece, the next few months are critical.
CJ Abrams presents a very different case, but he also has plenty to prove after the All-Star break. Unlike Crews, Abrams has already been highly productive this season. That should not come as a surprise, considering he earned the honor of starting at shortstop for the National League in the All-Star Game. His speed, power and overall offensive improvement have made him one of the most important players in Washington’s lineup.
The question with Abrams is not whether he can be great for stretches. He has already shown that. The question is whether he can sustain that level across a full season.
Over the last two years, Abrams has been excellent in the first half before fading badly down the stretch. Last season, he hit .287 with an .836 OPS before the All-Star break. After the break, those numbers dropped to a .217 average and a .634 OPS. His strikeout rate climbed, his walk rate dipped and the quality of his at-bats declined as the season wore on.
That trend cannot repeat if Abrams wants to fully establish himself as one of the premier shortstops in baseball. The Nationals need him to be more than a first-half star. They need him to remain a driving force in the lineup into August and September.
For Washington, the second half is not just about wins and losses. It is also about learning which offensive performances are real, which players are part of the next competitive core and which questions still need answers. Dylan Crews and CJ Abrams will be two of the most important hitters to watch as the Nationals try to prove their offensive breakout is built to last.