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Robert Hassell III arrived in the big leagues with a bang, going 2-for-5 with two runs and a stolen base in his first career game, going 3-for-5 with his first homer a week later, then delivering another pair of two-hit games shortly after that.
It’s been a struggle since for the Nationals rookie, though, who is finding out what most every other hitter in major league history has been forced to figure out along the way: Pitchers are going to make adjustments and figure out how to exploit your weaknesses.
“He’s young. He’s up here and trying to figure things out,” manager Davey Martinez said. “They’ve made some adjustments after the first week. He’s got to start making adjustments now on the pitchers.”
The 23-year-old outfielder arrived May 22 to significant fanfare, given his success at Triple-A Rochester and his longstanding reputation as top hitting prospect who was part of the Nationals’ massive package from the Padres in the Juan Soto trade. And nine games in, Hassell was living up to the billing, batting .270 (10-for-37) with six RBIs and a number of quality at-bats that suggested a mature hitting approach for someone so inexperienced. Things have taken a downturn since. Over his last nine games, Hassell is batting just .172 (5-for-29) with one RBI, 11 strikeouts and a .379 OPS.
The biggest concern? The rookie is swinging at everything, both inside and outside the zone. He has yet to draw a walk in 66 major league plate appearances.
“It’s OK to take some pitches, see some pitches. It’s OK to walk,” Martinez said he told Hassell recently. “He hasn’t walked yet. It’s a big part of the game. If they want to walk you, let them walk you. You’ve got to shrink the strike zone a little bit.”
Hassell, who drew 12 walks in 175 plate appearances at Triple-A prior to his promotion, did some damage against fastballs during his first week in D.C. Pitchers took notice and are now feeding him a lot more breaking balls and off-speed pitches, usually down and away. He’s been taking the bait instead of letting those pitches go by.
“There’s no doubt: They’re going to find your weakness,” Martinez said. “He came up and he was hitting fastballs fairly well. And then he’s had just breaking balls after breaking balls, and changeups after changeups. In hitters’ counts often, too. …
“He understands it. He sees it. It’s just a matter of him not swinging at them.”
* Though he said his left oblique strain is feeling better, Dylan Crews has not progressed enough from the injury to be cleared to resume baseball activities yet. The rookie outfielder, who was hurt 3 1/2 weeks ago, has been able to go through strengthening exercises but nothing more than that yet.
* Paul DeJong continues to take batting practice on the field with teammates. The veteran infielder, who suffered multiple facial fractures when he was struck by a pitch April 16, is scheduled to visit a doctor Saturday. If all goes well, he could be cleared to begin a minor league rehab assignment early next week.
* Derek Law, who faced live hitters this week for the first time since opening the season on the injured list with inflammation in his right forearm, is scheduled to throw at least one more simulated game this weekend and then could begin a minor league rehab assignment after that.
* Mason Thompson (Tommy John surgery) is close to beginning a rehab assignment after pitching multiple times in West Palm Beach, Fla.
* Orlando Ribalta (right biceps strain) is scheduled to throw off a bullpen mound for the first time Tuesday.
