After the Washington Nationals hoisted the Commissioner’s trophy at the conclusion of the 2019 World Series, things have not gone smoothly for the franchise. In the five seasons since, the most games the Nats have won in a season is 71, and they won’t eclipse that mark in 2025. After massive departures from the team’s core, the rebuild has been slow without producing much promise. When Washington traded its young star,
Juan Soto, they received one of the best hauls in recent memory for one of the best hitters in this generation.
CJ Abrams & James Wood Came To Nats In Juan Soto Trade
Headlining this deal were MLBbros James Wood and CJ Abrams, along with starting pitcher Mackenzie Gore, who have all earned All-Star selections as Nationals. But outside of the players from the Soto package, the rest of the big-league roster – as well as the farm system — is in a talent deficit. The lack of improvement and production from the young players in the organization prompted a major regime change, with general manager Mike Rizzo and manager Dave Martinez being fired on July 6. Frankly put, the Nationals are desperate to find other players to build around to put a winning product on the field for the first time in half a decade.
Enter Daylen Lile, the organization’s second-round pick in 2021, who has hit the ground running in his rookie season. He adjusted at the plate preceding the 2025 season and has progressed as a hitter. Lile hit .328 with an .880 OPS in 47 games across Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Rochester and was called up to make his MLB debut on May 23 after centerfielder Jacob Young was placed on the injured list. The 22-year-old outfielder was welcomed to the big leagues, hitting just .194 after his first 36 plate appearances, and was demoted on June 6.
Daylen Lile Hits 11th Inning Inside the Parker
Ten days later, Lile was brought back to the major-league club and hasn’t looked back. In the 75 games since, he is slashing .301/.349/.493 with seven homers while driving in 33 runs. It has led to a 125 wRC+, while Lile has also been a positive on the basepaths, stealing eight bases on the season. His most impressive showing has been his 10 triples so far, as he’s tied the franchise record while only playing a fraction of the games.
In the tenth inning of Washington’s Sept. 20 matchup against the Mets, Lile had a chance to get his 11th three-bagger when he smoked a line drive over centerfielder Cedric Mullins’ head, and the ball caromed off the wall. Instead, he opted for an inside-the-parker instead of a triple, racing around the bases using his 93rd percentile sprint speed.
Lile prioritizes contact, as he doesn’t routinely hit the ball hard or boast eye-popping exit velocity numbers. But he does hit the ball optimally, posting an elite 44 percent sweet spot rate as well as a 29 percent squared-up rate that showcases his ability to hit line drives and limit pop-ups. Lile also has a refined approach, posting good numbers relative to chasing, swinging and missing, and striking out. He can spray the ball to all fields; but when he gets the chance to pull the ball, he does, tapping into more power even while being only 5-11 and 195 pounds.
The next step for Lile is to refine his defense, as even with his speed, he hasn’t graded out greatly in the field. But as he’s shown already, his bat plays. And even if he is a primary designated hitter for the time being, his presence at the plate adds much-needed depth to the Nationals’ lineup and protection for Wood and Abrams. Rebuilding teams search for pieces to latch onto in the midst of losing campaigns, and even in a disappointing 2025, Lile is a positive for Washington moving forward.
