Hassell is not in the lineup for Tuesday's tilt against the Mets.
Hassell had started four of the previous six contests in center field, but he'll begin Tuesday's series opener on the bench. Jacob Young will be tasked with center-field duties for the Nationals.
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Nationals' Robert Hassell: Gaining foothold in lineup
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Hassell will start in center field and bat ninth in Sunday's game against the Phillies.
Hassell has now started four of the Nationals' last six games, with one of his absences during that stretch coming against a left-handed pitcher. With an .885 OPS since being called up from Triple-A Rochester on Aug. 1, Hassell has earned a regular spot in the rotation as Washington finds playing time for five young outfielders -- Hassell, James Wood, Dylan Crews, Daylen Lile and Jacob Young -- between the three defensive assignments and DH.
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Nationals' Robert Hassell: Smacks first major-league homer
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Hassell went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run during Saturday's 8-2 loss to Milwaukee.
In a game that saw the Nationals limited to two hits (a season low), Hassell made his one knock count in the third inning, when he took Brandon Woodruff deep to right field. It was the first major-league homer of Hassell's career, and the 23-year-old has a .547 OPS with one steal and 10 RBI across 81 plate appearances this season. He should see regular playing time in the outfield as long as Dylan Crews (oblique) is sidelined.
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Nationals' Robert Hassell: Drives in two in return to majors
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Hassell went 2-for-2 with a double and two RBI in Friday's loss to the Brewers.
Making his return to the majors Friday, Hassell wasn't in the starting nine but made a quick impact after pinch hitting for Jacob Young in the eighth inning. With Daylen Lile staying productive in right field, Hassell may have to settle for a bench role during his latest stint with the Nats, especially once Dylan Crews (oblique) gets healthy.
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Nationals' Robert Hassell: Promoted Friday
Rotowire
The Nationals recalled Hassell from Triple-A Rochester on Friday.
The 23-year-old will join Washington for his second stint in the majors after Alex Call was traded to the Dodgers on Thursday. Hassell had a .497 OPS over 79 plate appearances during his first taste of the big leagues, but he now appears set to take over as the Nationals' starting right fielder, at least until Dylan Crews (oblique) returns from the IL.
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Nationals' Robert Hassell: Likely headed back to majors
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Hassell was scratched from the lineup with Triple-A Rochester on Thursday and figures to be promoted to the majors Friday, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.
The Nationals have a hole in the outfield with Alex Call having been shipped to the Dodgers at the trade deadline, and Hassell appears to be in line to fill it. The 23-year-old struggled in his first taste of the majors earlier this season, but since returning to Rochester in mid-June he's been on a tear, slashing .336/.435/.519 over 33 games with six homers, seven steals and a 23:23 BB:K. Hassell figures to handle starting duties in right field until Dylan Crews (oblique) returns from the IL.
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Nationals' Robert Hassell: Returning to Triple-A
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The Nationals optioned Hassell to Triple-A Rochester after Sunday's 3-1 loss to the Marlins, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Hassell will return to Rochester after batting .218/.228/.269 with one home run and one stolen base in 79 plate appearances over his first 21 games in the big leagues. The Nationals are expected to recall Daylen Lile from Triple-A to replace Hassell on the active roster ahead of the team's four-game series against the Rockies that begins Monday.
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Nationals' Robert Hassell: Sitting versus southpaw
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Hassell is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Mets.
The Mets are sending lefty David Peterson to the hill, marking the second straight time the left-handed-hitting Hassell is absent from the lineup against a southpaw. Hassell had started against lefties each of the first five times the Nationals faced a lefty following his promotion from Triple-A Rochester on May 21, but Washington has less of a need for him to face same-handed pitching following the recent return of Jacob Young from the injured list.
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Nationals' Robert Hassell: On bench against lefty opener
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Hassell is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rangers.
The rookie outfielder will begin Sunday's contest on the bench while southpaw Jacob Latz opens the contest for the Rangers, but Hassell could be called upon to replace either Alex Call or Jacob Young once Latz leaves the mound. The recent return of Young from the injured list may not cost Hassell a regular spot in the lineup, but he'll need to improve on his .259/.259/.328 slash line to ensure he sticks around in Washington for the long haul.
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Nationals' Robert Hassell: Drives in three in Arizona
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Hassell went 2-for-5 with three RBI in Friday's win over the Diamondbacks.
The rookie outfielder opened the scoring with a two-RBI single in the top of the first inning, kicking off a wild 9-7 victory. Hassell has begun to find his rhythm against big-league pitching, racking up six hits -- including his first career homer -- and five RBI in the last three games, but an 0:9 BB:K over his first 32 plate appearances with the Nats remains a red flag for his fantasy appeal.
Nationals' Robert Hassell: Belts first big-league homer
Rotowire
Hassell went 3-for-5 with a solo home run, an additional run and an additional RBI in a 9-0 victory versus the Mariners on Wednesday.
Hassell had been struggling coming into Wednesday, going 0-for-12 with four strikeouts over his previous four games. He broke out of that funk against Seattle, with his biggest highlight being a 416-foot solo homer in the eighth inning for his first MLB long ball. It was also Hassell's first extra-base hit of any sort, and he's gone 5-for-22 (.227 average) with no walks across his first six big-league contests.
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Nationals' Robert Hassell: Two hits, steal in debut
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Hassell went 2-for-5 with a stolen base and two runs scored in Thursday's 8-7 extra-inning win over Atlanta.
This was Hassell's major-league debut, and it didn't take him long to make an impact. He hit a leadoff single in the second inning and stole second before scoring on a CJ Abrams single. Hassell is getting a look in the Nationals' outfield while the team is missing Dylan Crews (oblique) and Jacob Young (shoulder), though it's possible he could stick around longer if he makes a strong first impression. The 23-year-old Hassell slashed .288/.337/.405 across 43 games with Triple-A Rochester this year prior to his call-up after struggling over 17 games at that level to end 2024.
Nationals' Robert Hassell: Recalled to big leagues
Rotowire
The Nationals recalled Hassell from Triple-A Rochester on Wednesday.
Hassell rebounded from a slow start at Rochester this season with a .339/.381/.559 batting line and four home runs so far in May. The 23-year-old's prospect shine has worn since he was included by the Padres as part of a trade package for Juan Soto, but the tools are still there and he could get an opportunity in the Washington outfield while Dylan Crews (oblique) is on the 10-day injured list and Jacob Young (shoulder) is banged up. Hassell is starting in center field and batting seventh Wednesday versus Atlanta in his major-league debut.
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Nationals' Robert Hassell: Getting call to Washington
Rotowire
The Nationals are expected to recall Hassell from Triple-A Rochester on Wednesday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
After a slow start to the Triple-A season, Hassell has caught fire to the tune of a .339/.381/.559 slash line with four homers, 14 RBI, eight runs and two steals in 63 plate appearances since the start of May. With Jacob Young (shoulder) and Dylan Crews (back) both dealing with injuries, Hassell will receive his first call-up to the big leagues to provide the Nationals' outfield corps with a healthy body. The 23-year-old is capable of playing all three outfield positions, though he's worked almost exclusively as a center fielder this season.
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Nationals' Robert Hassell: Catching fire in May
Rotowire
Hassell went 4-for-5 with a walk, two home runs, three runs scored and three RBI for Triple-A Rochester on Friday.
The 23-year-old outfielder limped into May with a .240/.296/.280 slash line, but Hassell has erupted for eight hits in the first two games of the month to add over 150 points to his OPS. Power might never be a consistent part of his game -- Friday's long balls were his first of 2025 -- but he's 7-for-8 on steal attempts through 29 games this season. If an injury opens up a spot in the Nationals' outfield, Hassell is positioning himself to get the first chance at filling it.
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Nationals' Robert Hassell: Optioned to Triple-A
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The Nationals optioned Hassell to Triple-A Rochester on Wednesday, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.
Hassell has had a great Grapefruit League showing, batting .370 with one home run and two stolen bases. However, the 23-year-old has failed to put up even a .650 OPS each of the last two seasons in the minors, so he needs further refinement.
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Nationals' Robert Hassell: Blistering start to spring
Rotowire
Hassell went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins.
The 23-year-old outfielder launched a pitch from minor leaguer Justin King over the fence in right field in the sixth inning for his first homer of the spring. Hassell was once viewed as a top-10 prospect in baseball, but his status has cratered since he was included in the package the Padres sent the Nationals for Juan Soto in 2022. He made it to Triple-A for the first time late last season, going just 8-for-64 (.125) with a 5:17 BB:K over 17 games, but Washington still elected to add him to the 40-man roster this winter. Hassell has had an impressive start to his spring, going 4-for-9 with two doubles, a homer and a steal in four appearances, but he has a lot to prove before he'll work his way into the Nats' long-term plans alongside the likes of Dylan Crews and James Wood (quad).
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