The Nationals introduced that they’ve added outfielder Robert Hassell III and right-hander Andry Lara to their 40-man roster. Each gamers at the moment are protected against being chosen within the Rule 5 draft, with the deadline for such strikes coming at 5pm Central in the present day. Washington’s 40-man roster rely climbs to 38.
Hassell, now 23, was certainly one of six gamers who went from the Padres to the Nationals within the Juan Soto blockbuster. On the time, Hassell was thought-about one of many high 100 prospects within the league, having been chosen eighth total in 2020 after which performing nicely within the decrease ranges of the minors.
His inventory has fallen because the commerce because of some uneven outcomes as he has battled wrist accidents. He spent most of 2023 in Double-A, stepping into 106 video games at that degree. His 10.9% stroll price was stable however he additionally struck out at an enormous 31.9% clip. He produced a line of .225/.316/.324 for a wRC+ of 81. In 2024, he bought into 85 video games throughout a number of ranges, reducing his strikeout price to only 21% however his .241/.319/.328 batting line wasn’t a lot of an enchancment.
Nonetheless, he’s simply coming off a powerful efficiency within the Arizona Fall League. He bought 100 plate appearances there throughout 22 video games, hitting .281/.360/.517 in these. It’s a small pattern however an encouraging signal nonetheless.
Although Hassell isn’t actually thought-about a high 100 man anymore, it’s attainable that overcoming his wrist accidents may get him again on observe going ahead. The Nats clearly didn’t need him to get plucked away by one other membership, so he’s been added to the roster in the present day to maintain him out of the Rule 5 draft.
The Nats have Dylan Crews, James Wooden and Jacob Younger as their possible outfield trio in the intervening time however Hassell will give them some optionable depth. If he performs nicely sufficient to earn his main league debut, maybe Younger might be pushed right into a fourth outfielder function, although the designated hitter slot can also be pretty open in the intervening time. That would enable sufficient room within the lineup for everybody however that may naturally depend upon what strikes the membership makes within the the rest of the offseason.
Lara, 22 in January, was an novice signing out of Venezuela who simply wrapped up a breakout season within the minors. From 2021 to 2023, he posted a 4.97 earned run common throughout varied minor league ranges with a 20.8% strikeout price and 9.2% stroll price. This previous yr, he made 25 begins between Excessive-A and Double-A with a 3.34 ERA, 24.3% strikeout price and eight.1% stroll price.
The Nats gave him a roster spot in the present day to maintain him away from different golf equipment. He’ll presumably get a bump to Triple-A sooner or later in 2025 and provides the membership some optionable beginning depth. The membership’s projected rotation is pretty missing in expertise, as none of MacKenzie Gore, Cade Cavalli, Jake Irvin, Mitchell Parker, DJ Herz or Jackson Rutledge has reached 400 main league innings pitched but. Gore and Irvin are the one two of that group with greater than 151 frames.
The Nats may bolster that squad by signing or buying and selling for a veteran this winter, but when any of these in-house guys battle or get injured, Lara will likely be round and battling for a shot to make his main league debut.
