We’re about to see the fourth of five prospects acquired in the Juan Soto trade to make it to the Majors with the Nationals.
Washington made official Wednesday afternoon what GM Mike Rizzo had foreshadowed Wednesday on The Junkies: Robert Hassell III has been called up from Triple-A Rochester, and will make his MLB debut Wednesday night.
Hassell, 23, was the No. 8 overall pick in 2020 by the Padres, and has posted a .288/.337/.405 line in 175 plate appearances in Triple-A this year, including a .365/.403/.603 heater in May. That follows two seasons where he saw his stock drop a little bit due to injuries, but as Rizzo said to the Sports Junkies, Hassell has rebounded nicely after the Nats sent him back to Rochester for ‘more seasoning’ this year.
He replaces Dylan Crews on the roster, as Crews has been placed on the 10-day IL after leaving Tuesday night's game with left side discomfort following an awkward swing. The team is also watching Jacob Young nurse a day-to-day situation, as he has not played since running into the wall Saturday.
Rizzo did say Hassell has ‘played a great center field,’ so he’s an option there, but could also slide over to right if and when Young is able to return, as he’s played more in that corner over the last few years than left, where James Wood is entrenched on non-DH days.
Hassell now becomes the fourth of five prospects – following CJ Abrams, MacKenzie Gore, and James Wood – and fifth of six players overall (including Luke Voit) to suit up for the Nats since they dealt Soto and Josh Bell to San Diego at the 2022 trade deadline.
Only RHP Jarlin Susana, who is the Nats’ No. 2 prospect per MLB Pipeline and is currently at Double-A Harrisburg, has yet to reach The Show.