In what has been a year of many promotions and big league debuts for several young players on the Washington Nationals, #10 overall prospect Robert Hassell III is is proving that he deserves another shot in the big leagues. The 23-year-old is hitting .308 with ten home runs and 44 runs batted in, along with a .840 OPS. The smooth fielding center fielder has taken what he learned in his first stint with the Nats and run with it. Hassell III is riding a seven-game hit streak currently with two home runs and seven runs batted in.
While Hassell III's first stint with the Nats wasn't great as he posted a .218/.228/.269 slashline, the instant production following his demotion is promising. In 78 at-bats for the Nats, the left-handed slugger only drew one walk, which might not be completely his fault as it can be assumed that hitting coach Darnell Coles is probably not doing a ton with regards to teaching a legitimate approach at the plate. Hassell III notably drew three walks in a single game last week for the Red Wings. While Hassell III might've been unproductive at the plate in his first 21 games with the Nats, it seems he's taken the necessary strides to receive another opportunity.
Who's spot would Hassell III take? There's no point in promoting the 23-year-old if he's not going to play every day. The first candidate is center fielder Jacob Young. While Young is an elite defensive presence in center, his presence at the plate is nonexistent. In 218 at-bats this season, Young is yet to hit a home run and is hitting .248 with an OPS of .607. No matter how great your defense is, those numbers at the plate are not going to cut it on a winning baseball team. They filled in for just over a season as a placeholder, but that time is shrinking with the development of younger players with higher ceilings. The time for Jacob Young's days as the starting center fielder of the Nationals should be numbered.
The ceiling of Robert Hassell III is much higher than Jacob Young. Hassell III is a former eighth overall selection in the MLB Draft, versus Young, who was a seventh-round pick. It's time to see what the first-round talent can provide at the Major League level. I anticipate a plethora of changes at the trade deadline, and Robert Hassell III being the everyday center fielder until Dylan Crews is able to return would be among them.