Feb 20, 2023; West Palm Beach, FL, USA; Washington Nationals outfielder Robert Hassell III (55) practices his swing during a spring training workout at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images Washington prospect Robert Hassell III is expected to make his major league debut on Thursday night when the Nationals and visiting Atlanta Braves complete their rain-shortened series.
Hassell was listed in the starting lineup playing center field before Wednesday night’s game was rained out. The contest will be made up as part of a day-night doubleheader on Sept. 16.
Hassell was called up from Triple-A Rochester after the Nationals put outfielder Dylan Crews on the 10-day injured list with a left oblique strain.
“It’s never a positive,” Crews said. “You always want to go out there and play every day. But I guess it could’ve been worse. We’ll just get in the training room and get it right so I can get on the field as soon as I can.”
Crews had homered in two straight games and was hitting .196 with seven homers, 15 RBIs and 11 stolen bases.
Hassell, 23, was acquired in the August 2022 trade with the San Diego Padres for Juan Soto and Josh Bell. Hassell becomes the fourth prospect from that trade to reach the majors for Washington, joining CJ Abrams, James Wood and MacKenzie Gore.
Hassell was hitting .288 with four homers and 24 RBIs at Rochester.
“It’s amazing,” Hassell said Wednesday. “I came in here one other time last year for the prospect game, so I was a little bit familiar. But just finally being here, it means the world to me. It’s something I’ve dreamed of, but to finally be here and be with these guys, I’m looking forward to winning some games.”
Wednesday’s scheduled pitchers — Atlanta’s AJ Smith-Shawver (3-2, 2.33 ERA) and fellow right-hander Trevor Williams (2-5, 5.91) of Washington — are slated to pitch Thursday.
Smith-Shawver, 22, has been dominant in May. Over three starts, he has allowed one earned run on eight hits in 19 2/3 innings while striking out 18. His only blemish is walking eight batters during that stretch.
Most recently, Smith-Shawver allowed one unearned run over six innings of a win against the Nationals last Thursday. He gave up two hits and two walks while striking out six in a 5-2 victory.
“For me, it’s really been just trusting my stuff, attacking the zone and trying to get the batter out in three pitches or less,” Smith-Shawver said. “I was talking to (catcher James) McCann when we were down in (Triple-A) Gwinnett, and he’s just (saying), ‘Try to get the guy out in three pitches.'”
Smith-Shawver is 1-0 with an 0.00 ERA in two career appearances versus Washington.
Williams, on the other hand, has struggled in his last four outings (1-3, 6.86 ERA). He was the losing pitcher against Smith-Shawver last Thursday, allowing four runs (three earned) in 4 1/3 innings.
Williams is 3-2 with a 3.50 ERA in 12 career appearances (eight starts) against Atlanta.
Wood had two hits in Washington’s 5-3 win over Atlanta on Tuesday night. He has reached base safely in 26 of his last 28 games and has hits in 15 of his last 18 games.
Matt Olson homered Tuesday for Atlanta, which had won three of four games. Olson has hit safely in 12 of his last 15 games with three doubles, five home runs, four walks and 10 RBIs.
Ozzie Albies had an RBI double in the second inning to extend his hitting streak to seven games.
–Field Level Media
