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What to Expect from Nationals Outfielder Daylen Lile

Originally posted on New Baseball Media
By Chris Studley | Last updated May 23, 2025 3:54 PM ET

While Nationals outfielder Daylen Lile didn’t qualify for any league leader spot in the Eastern or International League as of the 23rd, that doesn’t mean he wasn’t performing. Lile blew through Harrisburg (AA) and Rochester (AAA) in 2025, earning himself a spot on the MLB roster. Thanks to an injury to Jacob Young, Lile will get his shot.

A Look at Lile

A former second-round pick back in 2021, Daylen Lile developed nicely into a MLB-quality bat.

After a slow start in 2021 down in the FCL, Lile posted a .807 OPS between Low-A and High in 2023 (he missed all of 2022 after UCL reconstruction surgery). He didn’t hit for much power in 2024 with Harrisburg (AA) after slugging .410 — thanks to six triples in pitcher-friendly Wilmington (A+) — but came along this season.

Lile slashed .319/.340/.505 (.845 OPS) with 29 hits over 21 games to earn a promotion to Rochester (AAA). Then, he batted .361 over 18 games with the Red Wings to get the bump to the Majors.

It’s a relatively simple approach for Lile, a hitter with a shorter swing and quick hands that allows him to catch up to velocity with ease. He’ll hit ground balls but also line drives; he picked up more liners (17) at Triple-A compared to fly balls (13).

Lile will chase with frequency. During a small sample size in Triple-A, 44 of Lile’s 142 swings were on pitches out of the zone. However, he doesn’t strike out much at all. He struck out just 97 times over 130 games last season, juxtaposed to 54 walks.

He was also a threat on the basepaths, as Lile stole 48 combined bases from 2023-24.

Defensively, Lile has upside to be a rangy defender in the outfield. However, one thing to note is Lile didn’t gun down many runners in the Minors. From 2021 to 25, Lile recorded only seven outfield assists.

The Nationals officially promoted Daylen Lile on May 23, as his contract was selected by Washington.

Analysis

Two days ago, the Nationals promoted another outfield prospect, Robert Hassell III, to replace an injured Dylan Crews on the roster. Now, Lile will slot in for another injured Nats outfielder, Jacob Young.

Young was placed on the injured list on May 23 (retroactive to May 20) with a left shoulder AC sprain.

Lile, much like Hassell III, doesn’t have standout power but his ability to get on base, either with his bat or eye, makes him a very intriguing name. He’s developed into a better prospect than Hassell III, at least offensively.

But, how he fits on a team long-term with numerous outfielders, including power bat James Wood, remains to be seen.

This article first appeared on New Baseball Media and was syndicated with permission.

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