Notes and quotes on the Nationals adding Robert Hassell III and Andry Lara to the 40-Man roster…
Washington Nationals GM and President of Baseball Operations Mike Rizzo described Robert Hassell III as a “five-tool talent” when the outfielder was acquired in the 2022 trade deadline deal for Juan Soto. Hassell was one of five top prospects from the San Diego Padres included in the trade package, alongside CJ Abrams, James Wood, MacKenzie Gore, and Jarlin Susana.
Rizzo highlighted Hassell’s abilities, stating he’s a player who can “hit, hit with power, play defense, throw, run, and steal bases,” emphasizing his high potential ceiling.
However, a broken hamate bone suffered in the Arizona Fall League late in 2022 hindered Hassell’s progress. He struggled in 2023, posting a combined .221/.324/.321 slash line with 16 doubles and nine home runs across 121 games and 545 plate appearances between High-A Fredericksburg and Double-A Harrisburg. Despite the challenging season, Hassell rebounded with a solid performance in the AFL, hitting .290/.366/.348 with a double and a home run over 20 games and 82 plate appearances.
In 2024, Robert Hassell III showed signs of improvement, producing a .271/.357/.371 slash line with six doubles and five home runs in 60 games and 260 plate appearances at Double-A. He was promoted to Triple-A Rochester for the final 17 games of the season. Across three levels—Class-A Wilmington, Double-A, and Triple-A—Hassell recorded a combined .241/.319/.328 line with nine doubles, two triples, and five home runs.
Returning to the Arizona Fall League this fall, Robert Hassell III delivered an impressive performance, hitting seven doubles and four home runs over 22 games and 100 plate appearances—just one homer shy of his total from 362 plate appearances during the regular season.
In an interview with Sportscasting’s Kyle Odegard earlier this month, Hassell reflected on his journey, sharing that he had been cautious with his swing after recovering from the hamate bone injury. However, he noted that he gradually regained his comfort at the plate, started rediscovering his power, and rebuilt his confidence.
“I’ve been confident my whole life,” Robert Hassell III reflected, “and then for a year and a half – I can’t believe it lasted that long – it was a really bumpy road.” He admitted that during his struggles, particularly after his hamate injury, his focus wasn’t entirely on his performance. “I was just trying not to hurt anything,” he said. “I wasn’t even really worried at times about what I was doing on the field, how I was performing.”
Looking ahead, Hassell expressed his goal of staying healthy this offseason and making a strong impression during Spring Training. “I’d like to finish all of Spring Training in big league camp and perform – create some opportunities for myself and make it a hard decision for them,” he explained. “Apply that pressure on them early, because Spring Training is long enough that I can really open some eyes. If I am back to what I usually do, I can open some eyes.”
Both Hassell III, currently ranked as the Nationals’ No. 13 prospect by MLB Pipeline, and right-handed pitcher Andry Lara, ranked No. 17, were added to Washington’s 40-man roster this week, securing their protection from selection in the upcoming 2024 Rule 5 Draft.
Andry Lara, a 21-year-old right-hander signed out of Venezuela in 2019, put together a strong campaign in 2024, splitting time between High-A and Double-A. Over 25 starts and 134 2/3 innings, Lara recorded a 3.34 ERA with 44 walks and 132 strikeouts.
As highlighted in the Nationals’ press release on their 40-man roster additions, Lara led the organization in wins (11) and WHIP (1.16) this season, while ranking second in innings pitched (134.2) and third in strikeouts (132).
Across his minor league career, Lara has compiled a 23-30 record with a 4.40 ERA in 82 games (80 starts). He’s held opponents to a .239 batting average, with a 1.28 WHIP and an average of 8.35 strikeouts per nine innings.
