When will Dylan Crews play for the Pirates? Projecting MLB debut for Pittsburgh's likely No. 1 draft pick

Projecting the MLB Draft can be an impossible feat, but there is little doubt about who will come off the board first in July. 

LSU outfielder Dylan Crews looks like a surefire No. 1 overall pick, with the Pirates expected to add the phenom to their growing collection of young talent. Pittsburgh has used the top slot in the draft strategically in the past, including in 2021 when the organization took Henry Davis and signed him to an under-slot deal, but there's no reason to overthink the pick this year.

Crews has had a terrific junior season in Baton Rouge. He has become a more well-rounded hitter and guided the Tigers to the College World Series. His advanced skill set and experience could have him quickly rising to the majors once he's drafted.

MORE: Full bracket, schedule for College World Series

Here's what you need to know about when Crews could make his debut for the Pirates. 

When will Dylan Crews play for the Pirates?

MLB draft picks almost always have to wait before jumping to the bigs, and that is expected to be the case for Crews as well. That doesn't mean his path to Pittsburgh can't be a short one.

Prospects drafted out of college tend to reach the major leagues much quicker than prospects drafted out of high school, by virtue of being at least three years older, and college hitters tend to earn a call-up quicker than college pitchers.

While Crews' timeline will have plenty to do with how well he performs in the minor leagues, we can use recent drafts as an example. Only one first-round pick from 2022 (Zach Neto) is in the majors one year after the draft, and only two first-rounders from 2021 (Matt McLain, Sam Bachman) have been called up two years later. However, nine 2020 first-round picks have reached the majors, eight of whom were drafted out of college. 

Three years is a realistic timeline for many first-round picks drafted out of college, but that likely won't be the reality for Crews. He has an advanced bat and will be one of the most promising prospects to come out of the draft in recent memory. Arriving in two years or sooner is a strong possibility, if not a likelihood.

MORE: College World Series betting picks, sleepers

Let's take a look at recent college hitters who were drafted first overall:

2021: Henry Davis, also drafted by the Pirates, was just recently promoted to Triple-A. Despite his success in the minors, the Pirates are taking it slowly with his development.

2020: Spencer Torkelson was brought up by the Tigers less than two years after he was drafted.

2019: Adley Rutschman debuted for the Orioles just under three years after he was drafted, although the lack of a minor league season in 2020 may have delayed his timeline. 

Before Rutschman, the most recent college hitter drafted first overall was Dansby Swanson. Swanson was called up by the Braves just 14 months after he was drafted by the Diamondbacks. Atlanta acquired him in a trade with Arizona in December 2015.

Crews almost certainly won't see the majors in 2023 and seems unlikely to climb to the Pirates in 2024, but his timeline will boil down to how he does in the minors.

What might help Crews stay on a fast track to Pittsburgh is the fact the Pirates' window to win is starting to open. Rutschman arguably was held back because the Orioles were mired in a massive rebuild. The Pirates, on the other hand, are emerging from a rebuild, have a winning record and will likely be looking to contend in 2024 and beyond. If Crews tears up the minor leagues in 2024, why wait? 

Dylan Crews stats

Crews has had an outstanding career at LSU, but he has taken his game to new heights in 2023. The SEC Player of the Year has raised his batting average by 85 points and is getting on base in a majority of his plate appearances.

Crews' .434 average is third-highest in the nation, and his .576 OBP is second behind only FAU's Nolan Schanuel. 

To outline just how spectacular a season Crews has had, he's 10th in the nation in hits despite being third in walks. Even when he's not flashing power, Crews is a legitimate on-base machine who has the tools to thrive at the next level.

Dylan Crews MLB mock draft

Crews is widely expected to be selected first overall by the Pirates in July's MLB Draft. MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo and Baseball America both have Crews coming off the board first in their most recent mock drafts.

There is no expectation Pittsburgh will pass on Crews' bat with the pick they earned in the first MLB Draft Lottery, despite the Pirates' money-saving decisions in past drafts.

TSN's Edward Sutelan ranks Crews as his No. 1 prospect in the draft, just ahead of teammate Paul Skenes. The Nationals would certainly love to get their hands on Crews at No. 2 overall, but Skenes is an impressive consolation prize.