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The Washington Nationals selected the contract of outfielder Daylen Lile from Triple-A Rochester and placed outfielder Jacob Young on the 10-day Injured List (retroactive to May 20) with a left shoulder AC sprain on Friday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.
Lile, 22, joins the Nationals after leading the organization in batting average (.337), OPS (.892), hits (55) and runs scored (30) in 39 games between Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Rochester this season. His 55 hits and five triples are tied for fifth in all of Minor League Baseball. Additionally, he ranks second in Washington’s system in on-base percentage (.383) and extra-base hits (17), tied for second in doubles (9) and third in slugging percentage (.509). Lile also recorded three home runs, 12 walks and nine stolen bases prior to having his contract selected.
Lile joins the Nationals for his first career Major League assignment after hitting safely in 15 of his last 16 games with the Red Wings. He hit .397 (25-for-63) with four doubles, one triple, one home run, nine RBI, eight walks, three stolen bases and 13 runs scored during this stretch which included a 12-game hitting streak.
Washington’s second-round pick in the 2021 First-Year Player Draft, Lile was Washington’s “Nationals Way” Award winner in 2024 after he led the system in triples (10), tied for the lead in doubles (23) and ranked in hits (2nd, 127), total bases (T3rd , 188), walks (T3rd, 54), OBP (4th, .347), OPS (4th, .735), runs scored (4th, 69), batting average (5th, .262) and stolen bases (T6th, 25).
Lile hit .273 with a .356 on-base percentage and a .421 slugging percentage in 294 career games across four professional seasons. He’s recorded 61 doubles, 25 triples, 18 home runs, 144 RBI, 133 walks, 59 stolen bases and 180 runs scored.
The Orioles are heartbroken to share the news of the passing of longtime Baltimore sportswriter and official scorer JIM HENNEMAN. Henny’s friendly demeanor, words of wisdom, and historical anecdotes will be dearly missed. We are all better for knowing him and are eternally grateful for his dedication to the Orioles for more than eight decades. The Camden Yards’ press box will forever bear his name and be a welcoming place to remember and recognize his life and legacy.
BOSTON – Jim Henneman, the longtime Baltimore sportswriter and Orioles official scorer affectionately known as “Henny,” passed away last night. He was 89.
Henneman has been battling health issues but he made it down to Sarasota again for spring training and attended home Opening Day. He was moved into hospice care this week.
The Orioles renamed the press box in Henneman’s honor in January 2024, a gesture that brought him to tears.
“I can’t imagine a better honor,” he said.
The team issued a statement this morning, saying it was “heartbroken” to share the news.
The moment was uplifting on its own merits, Keibert Ruiz ripping an RBI double down the right field line in the bottom of the first Thursday night to drive in the Nationals’ first run of the game. But upon reaching second base, the 26-year-old catcher immediately looked toward the stands behind home plate, flashed a wide smile and waved at the group that was simultaneously cheering and crying at what just happened.
Jose and Leidis Ruiz have followed their son’s career every step of the way, providing him every opportunity they could in their native Venezuela to learn and play baseball, get signed by the Dodgers as a teenager, then make his major league debut in Los Angeles in 2020, get traded to the Nationals in 2021 and sign a $50 million contract extension in 2023.
But Thursday, remarkably, represented the first time they had been able to watch him play any ballgame, at any level, in person since 2015 when Ruiz first began as a professional with the Dodgers’ Dominican Summer League club.
“I can’t believe it,” Ruiz said following the Nats’ 8-7, 10-inning win over the Braves. “They had to wait for, what, maybe 10-11 years to see me play for the first time, even here in the big leagues. That’s amazing. I can’t describe it.”
It’s not like the Ruiz family hadn’t been trying all this time to watch him in person. They applied for travel visas on five separate occasions over the last decade and were denied each of the first four attempts. Finally, last week they got the news they worried they might never receive and made preparations to fly to Washington for the first time.
BOSTON - The Red Sox flip-flopped starters for today’s doubleheader, using the rainout to move Brayan Bello ahead of Lucas Giolito. The Orioles are sticking with left-hander Cade Povich for Game 1 but haven’t committed to a starter for the nightcap.
Charlie Morton was listed for tonight before the weather forced a fourth postponement. He could get the ball anyway, or the Orioles could use an opener ahead of him, move Zach Eflin to Game 2 on normal rest rather than wait until Saturday, or choose a pitcher who’s called up as the 27th man.
It won’t be Chayce McDermott because he was optioned Wednesday.
Left-hander Trevor Rogers, also on the 40-man roster, hasn’t started for Triple-A Norfolk since May 16 and he’s listed as tonight’s starter against the St. Paul Saints. He’s allowed 12 earned runs (13 total) and 16 hits with six walks and 15 strikeouts in 13 1/3 innings.
The 40-man isn’t really a consideration because the Orioles have two openings.
It would’ve been a bit too easy had the Nationals simply closed out tonight’s game without any bullpen drama. So they decided to make their fifth consecutive win a bit more exciting.
Despite Kyle Finnegan’s blown save in the top of the ninth – one made possible by a José Tena fielding error – the Nats came back to walk off the Braves on Amed Rosario’s sharp single to left in the bottom of the 10th.
With Robert Hassell III (making his major league debut) serving as the automatic runner to begin the inning, Alex Call put down a perfect sacrifice bunt to put the rookie 90 feet away. Rosario (making his first appearance since suffering a nasty cut near his left knee six days ago that required stitches) turned on a 1-1 changeup from left-hander Dylan Lee and ripped a single to left, allowing Hassell to race home with the winning run to cap a memorable debut.
"It felt great," said Hassell, who became the first player in club history with two hits and a stolen base in his big league debut. "Truly the most important thing is we got the W. It feels amazing to win."
Finnegan took the mound with a one-run lead in hand, hoping to finish off what was shaping up to be an impressive bullpen effort that already included 4 1/3 innings of one-run (unearned) ball. The Nats' closer did get himself into trouble with a leadoff single, but after inducing a popout, he got Austin Riley to hit a sharp grounder to third for what could’ve been a game-ending, 5-4-3 double play. Alas, Tena couldn’t get a handle on the ball, leaving everybody safe and prolonging the game.
A doctor’s review of the MRI taken on Dylan Crews confirmed the club’s initial diagnosis of a left oblique strain, but manager Davey Martinez could not offer anything resembling a timetable for the Nationals rookie to return.
Crews, who already had been dealing with a sore lower back and left side for about a week, experienced additional pain on a check-swing attempt in the fifth inning Tuesday night against the Braves. He was placed on the 10-day injured list the following afternoon, with top outfield prospect Robert Hassell III called up from Triple-A Rochester to take his roster spot.
The timetable for oblique strains varies from player to player and based on the severity of each injury. Nationals first baseman/designated hitter Andrés Chaparro suffered a left oblique strain during batting practice March 14 prior to a spring training game and tonight is finally beginning a rehab assignment with Rochester after going 4-for-15 with a double and a homer in five rehab games for the Nats’ rookie-level Florida Complex League team.
Asked how Crews’ injury compares to Chaparro’s ailment, Martinez redirected his answer to compliment Crews’ physical and mental makeup.
“I’ll be honest with you: When I played, I didn’t even know what an oblique was,” the manager said. “Every guy is different. He’s a very strong kid, I know that. He’s going to work diligently to get back as soon as possible. But we want to make sure that when he does come back, this doesn’t become a problem for him. Hopefully sooner than later, but we’re going to give him as much time as he needs to get him ready.”
Let’s give this another try, shall we? After Wednesday night’s game was rained out, the Nationals and Braves will attempt to play their series finale as scheduled this evening, though there is again some rain in the forecast (more so early than late, so that should hopefully help matters).
It’s the same pitching matchup that was supposed to take the mound Wednesday, with Trevor Williams starting for the Nats and AJ Smith-Shawver starting for the Braves. The bullpens, of course, will be well refreshed and available for as much work as needed. Perhaps that plays into Davey Martinez’s hands, allowing him to pull Williams after five innings regardless of results, but we’ll have to wait and see.
Robert Hassell III has had a chance to process his first major league promotion for more than 24 hours now, so he should be good and ready to go come 6:45 p.m. He made a point to shag a bunch of fly balls in both center and right fields Wednesday afternoon to start getting a feel for the perspective here at Nationals Park. Of course, there’s nothing like the real thing, and you can’t simulate that.
WASHINGTON NATIONALS vs. ATLANTA BRAVES
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 6:45 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN2, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, 87.7 FM (Spanish), MLB.com
Weather: Chance of rain, 60 degrees, wind 8 mph out to right field
BRAVES
LF Alex Verdugo
3B Austin Riley
1B Matt Olson
DH Marcell Ozuna
C Drake Baldwin
2B Ozzie Albies
RF Eli White
CF Michael Harris II
SS Nick Allen
BOSTON – With rain in the forecast throughout the day and night, the Orioles must endure their fourth postponement of the 2025 season.
Makes it harder to carry the momentum from yesterday’s 11-inning win in Milwaukee.
The Orioles and Red Sox will play a split doubleheader on Friday, with Game 1 at 1:35 p.m. and Game 2 at 7:10 p.m.
Both teams get a 27th man.
The Orioles already made up two of their first three postponed games, being swept in a doubleheader in Detroit and at home against the Twins. They have a day-night doubleheader against the Blue Jays on July 29 at Camden Yards.
Due to planned activity in Washington, D.C., the start time for the Saturday, June 14, game between the Washington Nationals and Miami Marlins has been moved up to 1:05 p.m. from 4:05 p.m.
The Nationals are promoting their top prospect up a level in their minor league system.
Travis Sykora, the No. 1 prospect in the Nats system and No. 61 overall per MLB Pipeline, is being promoted to High-A Wilmington, a source confirms.
Sykora dominated Single-A once again following his return from offseason hip surgery. He held opponents to one hit, one run and one walk while striking out 14 in just five innings over two starts with the Fredericksburg Nationals.
It was an easy return to form for the 21-year-old, who the Nats selected out of high school in the third round of the 2023 MLB Draft. The 6-foot-6 righty was named Carolina League Pitcher of the Year in 2024 after going 5-3 with a 2.33 ERA, 0.906 WHIP, 129 strikeouts and 13.7 strikeouts per nine innings across 20 starts.
He also dominated in the playoffs to help the FredNats win their first championship since moving to Fredericksburg in 2020.
When the Nationals face the Braves tonight following Wednesday’s rainout, Robert Hassell III will take the field for the first time as a big leaguer. When he looks to his right from his outfield position, he’ll see James Wood. When he looks in toward the middle infield, he’ll see CJ Abrams. And watching from the dugout will be MacKenzie Gore, who on Friday night will take the mound to start the series opener against the Giants.
Those four players have long been connected, four of the five prospects the Nats acquired from the Padres in the August 2022 Juan Soto/Josh Bell trade. Nearly three years later, they’re all in the big leagues together. (Right-hander Jarlin Susana, the fifth prospect, is currently on the injured list after making five starts for Double-A Harrisburg to begin the season.)
“It’s awesome,” Hassell said. “I think that’s the best-case scenario in a lot of people’s eyes. It was a big trade, and everybody had high expectations for us. I’m glad to be in the same place, in ‘The Show.’”
Abrams was first to arrive, shortly after the trade. Gore was injured but made his Nationals debut in April 2023. Wood made it in July 2024. All three are now playing at an All-Star level, with Abrams ranking eighth in the majors with a .940 OPS, Wood tied for fifth in the National League with 12 homers and Gore leading the entire sport with 84 strikeouts.
Hassell, believe it or not, was just as highly regarded as any of them at the time of the deal, maybe more so. He boasted an .846 OPS in high Single-A upon getting traded and ranked anywhere from the 26th to the 37th best prospect in baseball.
The Orioles avoided a third consecutive series sweep yesterday. They didn’t fold after losing leads in the ninth and 10th innings. Félix Bautista allowed a run in his fourth consecutive appearance, but hey, at least he was cleared to pitch on back-to-back days.
Interim manager Tony Mansolino could enjoy the flight to Boston. The losing streak ended at eight. The Orioles improved to 1-27 when trailing after the seventh.
Can’t make up all the ground in one game. Yesterday was a start.
Let’s tackle a few questions this morning. This time, I’ll do the asking.
* Did the Orioles make the right choice with the rotation?
MILWAUKEE – Baltimore was right there. The losing streak was over.
The Tony Mansolino era had its first victory in the palm of its hand.
For the first time this season, Baltimore could come back to win a game after trailing entering the seventh inning. They found clutch situational hits when they needed to. Their former All-Star closer was on the mound with a chance to seal things in the ninth.
Baltimore was one strike away.
In a 2-2 count, American Family Field erupted at the sight of a Caleb Durbin RBI single to tie the game at three runs apiece.
Robert Hassell III’s major league debut will have to wait 24 hours. The Nationals’ newest outfielder won’t complain.
Tonight’s game between the Nats and Braves was postponed due to rain in the area, the announcement coming about 90 minutes after the team officially promoted Hassell from Triple-A Rochester and placed Dylan Crews on the 10-day injured list with a left oblique strain.
With Atlanta set to make another trip to D.C. this season, tonight’s game won’t be made up until a Sept. 16 day-night doubleheader, with a new 1:05 p.m. game added in advance of the previously scheduled 6:45 p.m. contest.
The two teams will complete this series as planned at 6:45 p.m. Thursday, with tonight’s starters (Trevor Williams, AJ Smith-Shawver) pushed back to pitch then.
Barring a change of heart by his manager, Hassell figures to be part of Thursday’s lineup for the Nationals. He was due to start in center field and bat seventh tonight, though it’s possible he’ll shift to right field if Jacob Young is ready to return from a jammed left shoulder.
It’s a cold, rainy day in the nation’s capital, with the chance of baseball being played on time and to completion tonight much less than 100 percent. It’s dry for the moment, but there’s more rain forecast for this evening, so stay tuned for updates.
If they play, it’s a fairly significant day for the Nationals, who are promoting outfielder Robert Hassell III from Triple-A Rochester for the first time. The corresponding move just announced sends Dylan Crews to the 10-day injured list with a left oblique strain.
It remains to be seen how much playing time the 23-year-old Hassell gets, but he should get some opportunity to show how ready he is for the big leagues, and then potentially stick in the long term.
The Nats lineup has suddenly turned productive, especially early in games. That group has now scored at least four runs off opposing starters within the first two innings of the last three games, a welcome departure from the previous week (and, to be honest, much of the season to date). It would be a very welcome development if that trend continues tonight against AJ Smith-Shawver, who six days ago held the same lineup to one unearned run on two hits over six innings at Truist Park.
Trevor Williams faced Smith-Shawver that day, as well, and was solid for four innings (one run allowed) before falling apart in the fifth (three more runs allowed). That loss left Williams at 2-5 with a 5.91 ERA. Statistically speaking, he’s been the worst member of the Nationals rotation. At some point, they need to see better results from the veteran, lest his spot become available to a younger starter.
The Washington Nationals recalled outfielder Robert Hassell III from Triple-A Rochester and placed outfielder Dylan Crews on the 10-day Injured List with a left oblique strain on Wednesday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.
Hassell III, 23, joins the Nationals for his first career Major League assignment after hitting .288 with seven doubles, four homers, 24 RBI, 12 walks, nine stolen bases and 19 runs scored in 43 games with Triple-A Rochester this season. His 24 RBI rank second in Washington’s Minor League system, while his 47 hits are tied for second. Named the "Best Defensive Outfielder" in Washington's system according to Baseball America prior to the 2025 season, Hassell III appeared in 39 games in center field and one game in right field in 2025.
Hassell III hit .365 (23-for-63) with a .603 slugging percentage (3 2B, 4 HR) in his last 16 games dating to May 1. In his final game prior to being recalled, Hassell III went 3-for-4 with two doubles, two RBI and one run scored in Rochester’s 9-4 win over Syracuse on Tuesday night.
The No. 8 overall pick in the 2020 First-Year Player Draft, Hassell III put on a strong showing in Spring Training, going 17-for-46 (.370) with a .408 on-base percentage (3 BB) and a .543 slugging percentage (5 2B, HR) in 21 Grapefruit League games in 2025.
Acquired at the 2022 Trade Deadline along with with CJ Abrams, MacKenzie Gore, James Wood and Minor League right-handed pitcher Jarlin Susana, Hassell III has hit .263 with with 90 doubles, nine triples, 40 home runs, 239 RBI, 97 stolen bases and 283 runs scored in 471 professional games between San Diego’s and Washington’s organizations.
MILWAUKEE – There haven’t been very many positives to point to in the brief Tony Mansolino era. Today, there’s one in plain sight.
Andrew Kittredge, who the O’s signed to a one-year, $10 million deal with an option for 2026 this offseason, was reinstated from the injured list today. Kittredge missed a chunk of spring training and the beginning of this season after undergoing “knee debridement” surgery. At his healthy best, he’s one of the best setup men in the game.
“I definitely wasn’t expecting to have surgery during spring training,” Kittredge said this morning with a laugh. “That was kind of out of my control. So, I just attacked the rehab and feeling good, and just excited to be back now, even though it wasn’t the beginning of the season that I hoped for. Excited to be back.”
Kittredge made 74 appearances for the Cardinals a season ago, top-10 among pitchers’ games played. He posted a 2.80 ERA, a return to form in his first full season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2022.
Having previously gone through a long rehab, Kittredge knew the drill this time around.
Reliever Andrew Kittredge is on the verge of finally making his Orioles debut.
The Orioles reinstated Kittredge from the 15-day injured list this morning and optioned Chayce McDermott to Triple-A Norfolk.
Kittredge made only one appearance in spring training before undergoing surgery to repair cartilage in his left knee. He signed for $10 million over the winter.
McDermott allowed three runs and walked five batters in 4 2/3 innings in his third career major league appearance and was optioned after the game.
The bullpen has an extra reliever today as the Orioles try to snap an eight-game losing streak and avoid a third consecutive sweep. They’ve fallen 17 games below .500.
It was bound to get better at some point. Really, how couldn’t it?
As much as the Nationals bullpen struggled through the season’s first month-plus, it was hard to believe that group could sustain such a low level of performance over the long haul. Through the season’s first 39 games, this relief corps owned a collective 7.29 ERA, worst in the majors and a number that would be historically bad over a full 162-game slate.
Slowly but surely, though, things are stabilizing. The Nats aren’t necessarily getting dominant bullpen work now, but they’re certainly getting quality work from that group: Over their last 10 games, relievers have combined for a 3.12 ERA. That’s eighth-best in the majors during this span.
“I think we’re just getting into the groove of the season a little bit,” right-hander Cole Henry said. “Everybody’s trying to get out there and get outs and do what’s best for this team: Get wins and keep stacking them.”
That’s exactly what has been happening of late. The Nationals have won four in a row, and during Tuesday’s 5-3 victory over the Braves the bullpen played a significant role. Henry, Jose A. Ferrer, Jorge López and Kyle Finnegan collectively tossed 3 2/3 scoreless innings, that quartet retiring 11 of the 12 batters it faced to close out the game with little margin for error.
