Nationals' Daylen Lile: Taking seat against southpaw
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Lile is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Phillies.
Lile had started four straight games, but he'll get Sunday off while the Phillies send southpaw Ranger Suarez to the hill. Robert Hassell will fill in for Lile in left field and bat eighth.
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Nationals' Daylen Lile: Hitting bench against lefty
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Lile is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Athletics, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
The Nationals will send the left-handed-hitting Lile to the bench Wednesday while southpaw Jeffrey Springs takes the hill for the Athletics. Lile had started at one of the corner-outfield spots in each of Washington's previous 10 games, slashing .324/.341/.514 with five extra-base hits (three doubles, two triples), one stolen base, six runs and five RBI.
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Nationals' Daylen Lile: Productive in Friday's loss
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Lile went 2-for-4 with a double, a triple, two runs scored and two RBI in Friday's loss to the Brewers.
Robert Hassell got called back up Friday to replace Alex Call on the big-league roster, but it was Lile who got the start in right field against southpaw Jose Quintana. The 22-year-old outfielder has stayed productive since the All-Star break to help him maintain a consistent spot in the lineup, slashing .279/.327/.512 over his last 12 games with four doubles, three triples, a steal, eight runs and eight RBI. Regardless of how Lile and Hassell divide the playing time in right in the short term, they will eventually cede the job to Dylan Crews (oblique), who began a rehab stint with Triple-A Rochester on Tuesday.
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Nationals' Daylen Lile: Sitting versus southpaw
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Lile is not in the lineup for Wednesday's contest against the Reds.
The left-handed-hitting Lile will get a day off as the Reds send southpaw Nick Lodolo to the bump. Alex Call will take over in right field and bat fifth for the Nationals.
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Nationals' Daylen Lile: First career multi-RBI game
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Lile went 2-for-4 with a triple, three RBI and was also hit by a pitch, during Monday's 10-8 win over the Reds.
Lile's rookie season had yet to feature a performance with multiple RBI, but that changed with the youngster's bases-clearing triple in the first inning. The month has been otherwise forgettable for the 22-year-old, who has just one other multi-hit game in July. His season-long slash line is .232/.287/.360 to go along with six doubles, two triples, two homers and 11 RBI.
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Nationals' Daylen Lile: Pops homer in loss
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Lile went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 6-5 loss to the Brewers.
Lile opened the scoring with a second-inning solo shot, his first extra-base hit in six games. The outfielder went 0-for-6 over his previous two games following a 14-game hitting streak in which he batted .327 with three RBI. Lile has found improved consistency of late, but he's still slashing just .231/.282/.352 with two homers, seven RBI, 14 runs scored and two stolen bases across 117 plate appearances. He continues to occupy a strong-side platoon role.
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Nationals' Daylen Lile: Getting night off
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Lile is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cardinals.
The Nationals are facing a right-hander (Andre Pallante) who owns significant reverse splits for his career, so Lile will head to the bench along with fellow left-handed hitter Luis Garcia. Alex Call will replace Lile in right field and bat sixth.
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Nationals' Daylen Lile: Racks up three hits
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Lile went 3-for-5 with a double and two runs scored in Sunday's 7-4 extra-innings win over the Angels.
Lile extended his hitting streak to eight games, and this was his second multi-hit effort in that span. He hasn't displayed much power during the heater, logging just two extra-base hits (both doubles), but the consistency is a positive. The outfielder is now batting .234 with a .649 OPS, one home run, two stolen bases, four RBI and 12 runs scored over 84 plate appearances. He continues to see most of the time in right field versus right-handed pitchers while Dylan Crews (oblique) is on the injured list.
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Nationals' Daylen Lile: Logs steal Saturday
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Lile went 1-for-3 with a walk, a stolen base and a run scored in Saturday's 8-2 loss to the Angels.
Lile extended a seven-game hitting streak, and he's gone 8-for-26 (.308) with two steals on four attempts in that span. The outfielder continues to hold down a strong-side platoon role in right field, sharing the position with Alex Call while Dylan Crews (oblique) remains on the injured list. Lile is batting .208 with a .599 OPS, one home run, two steals, four RBI, 10 runs scored, four doubles and a triple over 79 plate appearances this season. He stole 20-plus bases in each of his two full minor-league seasons and had 12 thefts in 47 contests between Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Rochester this year prior to his latest call-up, so he can make an impact with speed if he gets on base enough.
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Nationals' Daylen Lile: Homers in big-league return
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Lile went 1-for-3 with a solo home run during Monday's 6-4 loss to the Rockies.
The first stint in the big leagues didn't go too well for Lile, hitting just .194 over 11 games, but his second one is off to a much better start. The 22-year-old clubbed the first home run of his season and his career Monday. It's a good start for the young outfielder in his bid to earn more playing time as he, Jacob Young and Alex Call jockey for playing time in center and right field.
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Nationals' Daylen Lile: Back in big leagues
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The Nationals recalled Lile from Triple-A Rochester on Monday.
Lile didn't do much in his brief earlier stint with the big club, going 6-for-31 in 11 contests. The 22-year-old outfielder will compete for at-bats in center and right field with Jacob Young and Alex Call.
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Nationals' Daylen Lile: Sent to Triple-A
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The Nationals optioned Lile to Triple-A Rochester on Wednesday, Spencer Nusbaum of The Washington Post reports.
Lile had been a near-everyday player for the Nationals since being called up May 23, but now that Jacob Young (shoulder) is off the injured list, Lile will return to Triple-A. In 11 games with the Nationals, the 22-year-old went 6-for-31 (.194) with three doubles and a triple.
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Nationals' Daylen Lile: Getting first day off since call-up
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Lile is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cubs, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
For the first time since being called up from Triple-A Rochester on May 23, Lile will hit the bench as Alex Call replaces him in right field. While starting in each of the past 10 games, Lile held his own at the plate, slashing .226/.286/.419 with five extra-base hits (four doubles, one triple), three runs and two RBI. Until the Nationals get at least one of Jacob Young (shoulder) and Dylan Crews (oblique) back from the injured list, the left-handed-hitting Lile should have a clear path to regular playing time versus right-handed pitching, though he'll occasionally hit the bench versus lefties.
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Nationals' Daylen Lile: Called up to majors
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The Nationals selected Lile's contract from Triple-A Rochester on Friday.
Lile began the season at Double-A Harrisburg before being promoted to Rochester in late April. Between the two stops, the 22-year-old has slashed .337/.383/.509 with three long balls and nine stolen bases over 39 contests. Lile should see some starts in the outfield against righties while Dylan Crews (oblique) and Jacob Young (shoulder) are out. Robert Hassell and Alex Call will also be in the mix for playing time in those two spots.
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Nationals' Daylen Lile: Elevated to Triple-A
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The Nationals promoted Lile from Double-A Harrisburg to Triple-A Rochester on Wednesday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
After splitting 2024 between Harrisburg and High-A Wilmington, Lile returned to Double-A to begin this season and quickly proved deserving of a stiffer test. The 22-year-old outfielder led the Eastern League in hits with 29 while slashing .319/.340/.505 with two homers, six steals, 14 RBI and 17 runs across 94 plate appearances in 21 games.
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Nationals' Daylen Lile: Available for exhibition
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Lile (back) is listed among the Nationals prospects on the "Futures Roster" for Tuesday's exhibition against current Washington players, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Lile had been attending big-league spring training with the Nationals but didn't appear in any Grapefruit League games since March 2, when he was carted off the field after a collision with the outfield wall. He was fortunate to avoid a serious injury and was diagnosed with a lower-back contusion. Lile was cleared to resume full baseball activities more than a week ago, so assuming he's able to play Tuesday without issue, he should be ready to go for the start of the minor-league season. Lile is likely to open the 2024 season with High-A Wilmington.
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Nationals' Daylen Lile: Carted off field
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Lile was carted off the field during Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox after suffering an apparent neck injury, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Shortly after entering Saturday's game, Lile jumped over the outfield wall in an effort to rob Tyler Miller of a home run and landed head first into the Red Sox's bullpen. Lile remained on the ground for a while and was eventually carted off the field with his neck in a brace. The Nationals will surely take a look at him and offer more details soon, but a lengthy absence may be in store for the 21-year-old outfield prospect.
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Nationals' Daylen Lile: Jumps to High-A
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Lile was promoted Tuesday to HIgh-A Wilmington, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Lile did not play in 2022 as he recovered from Tommy John surgery, but he has earned a quick bump to High-A ball after slashing .291/.381/.510 with seven homers, 48 RBI, 21 stolen bases and 49 runs scored in 66 games this season for Single-A Fredericksburg. The young outfielder was selected by the Nationals in the second round of the 2021 First-Year Player Draft out of a Kentucky high school.
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Nationals' Daylen Lile: Strong full-season debut
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Lile is hitting .297 with a .387 OBP, three home runs, eight steals and a 19.3 percent strikeout rate in 26 games for Single-A Fredericksburg.
A second-round pick in 2021, Lile missed all of 2022 after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Known primarily for his hit tool as an amateur, Lile has shown zero rust after all the missed time. His 8-for-9 success rate on the bases probably oversells his stolen-base upside in the majors, as he is typically listed as an average runner on scouting reports.
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Nationals' Daylen Lile: Available for camp
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Lile (elbow) is listed as an available reserve outfielder for the Nationals in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Lile won't be a direct substitute for any of Washington's three outfield starters on the day (Alex Call, Derek Hill and Stone Garrett), but his presence on the team's travel squad is an indication that he's healthy for spring training. A 2021 second-round draft pick, the 20-year-old Lile missed the entire the 2022 campaign while recovering from the Tommy John surgery he underwent last March.