Robert

Hassell III

Hassell is now hitting 12-for-38 (.316) in 10 games with three RBI and five steals. He also has 12 strikeouts to just three walks, so it hasn’t all been great, but the former eighth overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft also hit .370 this spring in 49 plate appearances and might be coming into his own a bit. The Nationals are already playing Dylan Crews in center field and Alex Call in right field, so the idea that they don’t want to bench Jacob Young and his elite defense has already been disproven. If Hassell continues to hit, he could be called up to play right field or center field over the summer.

Hassell has picked up right where he left off after an impressive spring, hitting .357 (5-for-14) with one steal through three games. The 23-year-old former top prospect is putting himself back on fantasy manager’s radar screens with his recent performance, but it’ll be challenging for his patience and speed profile to succeed at the highest level.

The eighth overall pick from the 2020 MLB Draft, Hassell III was a bit of an afterthought headed into spring after a rough 2024 season. However, the 23-year-old impressed by hitting .370/.408/.543 with one home run and two steals in 49 plate appearances this spring. He will need to carry that over into the regular season, but if he does, he could make his MLB debut sometime over the summer.

This is predicated on Hassell III continuing to hit as well in Triple-A as he has been this spring. The Nationals believe that Dylan Crews is a major league centerfielder, so Hassell III would move to a corner outfield spot and move Crews to center in that scenario. Young is an elite defensive outfielder, but he could shift to a fourth outfielder role if he can’t hit enough to warrant a full-time starting spot.

Hassell struck out in his other two at-bats off the bench today. Largely a disappointment since being taken eighth overall by the Padres in the 2020 draft, Hassell did open some eyes in hitting .281/.360/.517 in 22 games in the Arizona Fall League last year. He’s destined to spend most of this season in Triple-A.

Both players are now not eligible for the Rule 5 Draft in December. Hassell was one of the top prospects acquired from the Padres in the deal for Juan Soto, but hasn’t lived up to expectations just yet. Lara is one of the better pitching prospects in the Washington system, and both certainly would have had interest in the draft next month.

Hassell, the eighth overall pick in the 2020 draft, is coming off another disappointing season, though at least his .729 OPS in 60 games in Double-A was his highest mark that he’s had at any stop since the Nationals got him from the Padres in the Juan Soto deal. The Nats have to decide in the coming weeks whether it’s worth protecting him from the Rule 5 draft. One imagines they will, since they’re not really hurting for spots on the 40-man at this point, but it might come down to how he performs in the AFL.

The trio of Wood, Crews and Hasell are the headliners here with House not too far behind as part of Washington’s likely future nucleus at the highest level. It’s notable that Trey Lipscomb is still in big-league camp with spring training winding down.

Hassell came over from the Padres in the Juan Soto trade and was off to a good start in the spring, hitting .357/..412/.786 with one home run and two steals in 12 games. The 22-year-old was likely to start the season in Triple-A with a chance at an early call-up, and this injury only seems to make that more likely. Once the MRI results are in, it will be clearer what his timeline for recovery is.

Hassell figures to reach the big leagues at some point this season, but he’s likely ticketed for Triple-A Rochester to open the year.