When the Nationals decided to make a blockbuster move and send OF Juan Soto and 1B Josh Bell to the Padres, they acquired top prospects James Wood, CJ Abrams, and MacKenzie Gore in return. What fans tend to forget is that OF Robert Hassell III was also in that deal, and while he hasn't made his debut like all the others yet, he was a higher-rated prospect at the time.
Unfortunately, Hassell's Nationals tenure has been plagued by injuries, more specifically, his wrist. Even though Hassell has played extremely well, the Nationals opted to send their #12 prospect to AAA. But Why?
1. He needs to get every day at-bats
The Nationals already plan for the big three (James Wood, Jacob Young, Dylan Crews) to be their everyday outfielders in the big leagues to begin the season. With those names blocking the path, Hassell would be the #4 outfielder and get inconsistent playing time. The Nationals would prefer if Hassell could get everyday at-bats as long as possible before getting the call. However, if Jacob Young cannot provide offensively, expect Hassell to get an early call to the show.
2. He must prove he can stay healthy
As mentioned, Hassell has been plagued with wrist injuries since being acquired by Washington. The Nationals need to see Hassell perform well, as well as stay healthy, before making the call. Hassell is coming off a great Fall League and Spring Training but that is in minimal playing time. Can Hassell stay healthy for an entire first half?
3. Alex Call's Performance
No one will admit it, but Alex Call is playing out-of-his-mind baseball right now. Before getting injured, Call was hitting .343 with 3 homers and 14 RBI. More notably, Call was the best hitter in the league from the time he got called up on July 28th to the time he was injured on August 24th. Call has continued the success this spring, hitting .393 in 28 at-bats this spring. Additionally, Stone Garrett being DFA'd was the confirmation that Call had earned the 4th outfield spot early on in camp.
While it is unfortunate to see Hassell get sent down, it is hard not to be excited for the future ahead. Manager Davey Martinez already commented on the roster move and very firmly said that Hassell is crucial for plans in the organization. While I would love that to mean he gets everyday playing time, the favored outcome for Hassell in the eyes of the fans is that he ultimately gets traded for a top-level arm in the rotation. With the outfield depth in DC being so deep, it is hard to imagine they do not trade at least 1 of their pieces. Daylen Lile, Andrew Pinckney, and Robert Hassell are all top-prospect outfielders who could be moved to bolster the rotation, as there is only one semi-available position open in the outfield.