Robert Hassell III has encountered bumps within the street, however he’s assured that he’s lastly on target. Well being and a greater understanding of his left-handed stroke are two the explanation why. Added to the Washington Nationals’ 40-man roster over the offseason, the 2020 first-rounder — he went eighth general to the San Diego Padres — can be nonetheless simply 23 years previous. Whereas his path to the massive leagues has been something however easy, Hassell is much from over the hill by way of prospect standing.
Accidents have hampered his progress. Since turning professional, Hassell has incurred a pair of wrist accidents, together with a damaged hamate bone, and strained a groin muscle. As a consequence, he’s performed in simply 428 video games over 4 seasons. Seldom at full power for an prolonged time period, he’s slashed an uninspiring .260/.350/.385 with 36 house runs and a 105 wRC+.
Hassell didn’t wish to dwell on his previous damage points after I spoke to him in the course of the Arizona Fall League season, though he did acknowledge that he “must be wholesome and on the sphere” with a view to enable his true expertise to play. And he undoubtedly has expertise. Whereas energy has by no means been a part of his profile, Hassell’s mixture of bat-to-ball expertise, velocity, and outfield protection helped make him a main piece within the multi-player commerce that despatched Juan Soto from Washington to San Diego in August 2022.
The dialog I had with Hassell in Arizona centered on his improvement as a hitter — one thing he views as a work-in-progress in want of nuance, not one which requires an overhaul.
“I’m taking a look at it like, ‘That is who I’m, so let’s proceed to develop on it,’” defined Hassell, who excelled within the AFL to the tune of .281/.360/.517 with 5 house runs in 100 plate appearances. “You undergo instances the place it’s like, ‘Oh, I ought to change this, I ought to change that,’ however I’ve much less and fewer of that now. It’s change into extra, ‘Okay, that was a foul day. Let’s break issues down and see why.’ Baseball goes to occur to you, regardless.”
Which brings us to a nuanced change he made within the desert. Working with Nic Wilson, his hitting coach with the Salt River Rafters, Hassell started specializing in staying extra on his bottom and letting the ball come to him.
“How late can I catch the ball however nonetheless be lightning fast? That’s been a key for me out right here,” stated Hassell, whose common season output included a 87 wRC+ and 4 house runs throughout three ranges (Excessive-A, Double-A, Triple-A). “It’s one thing Nic has talked to me about, and it’s form of ‘Why haven’t I thought of it approach that sooner?’ It’’s little keys like that, little mild bulbs, that may aid you alongside the best way.”
Hassell went on to clarify that he has actually fast palms, and at instances has been responsible of slowing his bat all the way down to make contact with off-speed pitches. Sitting heater, he would leak ahead and put his physique in a poor place to drive the ball. He’d make contact, however the consequence can be a worm-killer, not the scorching low line drive he’s after.
“If you’re leaking, all the pieces is dangerous for you,” stated Hassell. “The ball accelerates. Your swing slows down. You lose energy. Something dangerous you’ll be able to consider goes to occur if you leak ahead. What I’m studying is that I can let the ball journey, be lightning fast, lightning fast, and nonetheless pull the ball. I’ve at all times been a handsy kind of hitter — it’s muscle reminiscence — and that’s a part of the event course of that’s been hardest for me. I must do higher job of getting my decrease physique into it. As soon as I nail that down, I’ll hit much more balls like I wish to.“
Doing so — even when not lots of these balls are clearing fences — would go a great distance towards his sporting a Washington Nationals uniform. The place does the younger outfielder really feel that he presently is, career-wise?
“I take into consideration that always,” Hassell admitted. “I take into consideration what my objectives are, and the way a lot I wish to play within the huge leagues. I take into consideration all of those little bumps within the street I’ve gone by means of, and the way they’ve made me understand how a lot I really like the sport. The best way I’m taking a look at is that my profession has solely begun. I haven’t touched the massive leagues but, and that’s the tip purpose. I wish to get there and play for a very long time.”
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RANDOM HITTER-PITCHER MATCHUPS
Ernie Lombardi went 16 for 31 towards Mace Brown.
Willie McGee went 25 for 44 towards Mike Scott.
Tony Taylor went 24 for 51 towards Vern Regulation.
Elmer Valo went 10 for 16 towards Dick Starr.
Andre Dawson went 17 for 38 towards John Smiley.
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Which of Corbin Carroll, Colton Cowser, Riley Greene, and Julio Rodriguez — all of whom are presently 24 years previous — will put up the perfect offensive numbers within the coming season? I requested that query in a Twitter ballot earlier this week, and as usually occurs, the participant I’d have chosen didn’t come out on high. Right here have been the outcomes:
Carroll 40.6%, Rodriguez 29.1%, Greene 26.3%, Cowser 4.0%.
With all due respect to the others, my vote would go to Greene. The Detroit Tigers outfielder is coming off of a season the place he slashed .262/.348/.479 with 24 house runs, a 135 wRC+, and 4.0 WAR. His 2025 ZIPS projections are in that very same ballpark, however I count on his numbers to be meaningfully higher. Frankly, I received’t be shocked if Greene leads to the MVP dialog.
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Left on the cutting-room flooring from Wednesday’s interview with George Lombard Jr have been his ideas on his paternal grandmother’s legacy. Posy Lombard, who died in a automotive accident when George Lombard Sr was 9 years previous, was a civil rights activist who marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Once I spoke with the 19-year-old New York Yankees infield prospect this previous summer time, I discussed how Peter Gammons has at all times spoken properly about his household.
“Peter is superior,” Lombard relied. “I’ve recognized Peter for a very long time, actually since I can bear in mind. However sure, a few of the stuff my dad has finished over the past couple of years to form of convey my grandmother’s story into mild… not many individuals learn about it. It’s actually cool to understand how nice of an individual she was, and the sacrifices she made for the individuals round her.”
Does the the highly-regarded prospect see himself talking out for human rights as he goes ahead in his profession?
“I imply, it’s clearly an vital challenge around the globe,” Lombard stated. “I can’t let you know proper now what my future holds, however I’d like to carry up the legacy, maintain up the household’s identify.”
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A quiz:
Which participant to have carried out within the Tremendous Bowl-era NFL has essentially the most MLB hits?
The reply will be discovered beneath.
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NEWS NOTES
The Miami Marlins introduced yesterday that they’re launching a Legends Corridor of Fame. The inaugural class will comprise Luis Castillo, Jeff Conine, Jim Leyland, and Jack McKeon.
Jack McMullen was introduced as the brand new lead radio play-by-play voice for the Marlins. A graduate of Syracuse College’s Newhouse College of Public Communications, the Chicago native spent the final three seasons with the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians.
The Chicago Cubs introduced that Alex Cohen will function the full-time backup for Jon Sciambi on the crew’s TV broadcasts. A Philadelphia native, Cohen has excelled because the radio voice of the Triple-A Iowa Cubs.
Wealthy Dauer, a slick-fielding infielder who spent his whole 10-year profession with the Baltimore Orioles, died earlier week at age 72. Later a big-league coach and minor-league supervisor, Dauer was inducted into the Orioles Corridor of Fame in 2012.
Don Secrist, a southpaw who appeared in 28 video games for the Chicago White Sox throughout the 1969-1979 seasons, died on January 30 at age 80. He misplaced his solely choice, to the Orioles. Baltimore’s Brooks Robinson, Boog Powell, and Mark Belanger went a mixed 13-for-19 with three house runs versus Secrist.
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The reply to the quiz is Brian Jordan, who recorded 1,454 hits whereas enjoying for 4 MLB groups from 1992-2006. Jordan was a defensive again with the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons from 1989-1991. For those who guessed Bo Jackson or Deion Sanders, they’d 598 and 558 hits respectively.
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Jhostynxon Garcia is making a reputation for himself within the Purple Sox system. Signed by Boston out of Venezuela in 2019, the 22-year-old outfielder is coming off of a 2024 season the place he slashed .288/.356/.536 with 23 house runs and a 151 wRC+ in 459 plate appearances throughout Low-A Salem, Excessive-A Greenville, and Double-A Portland. Furthermore, the right-handed slugger’s breakout marketing campaign included a 21.6% strikeout price, down from 25.5% the earlier marketing campaign.
Like most hitters, Garcia labored on honing his swing over the offseason. He additionally labored on pitch recognition, hitting towards a combined array delivered by a Trajekt. A capability to hammer off-speed is already one in every of his attributes, partly as a result of he doesn’t go as much as the plate merely looking heaters.
“I’m sitting on breaking pitches, as a result of I do know that pitchers are going to throw me lots of breaking stuff,” Garcia informed me final month when the Purple Sox held their annual rookie improvement camp at Fenway Park. Once I subsequently requested if that’s due to his plus energy, his response got here with a smile. “It is likely to be,” stated Garcia. “It is likely to be.”
Eric Longenhagen’s July 2024 report on Garcia recommend as a lot. Within the phrases of our lead prospect analyst, the promising teenager has “big-time all-fields juice.”
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FOREIGN AFFAIRS
The Dominican Republic beat Mexico 1-0 on Friday night time to seize this yr’s Caribbean Collection championship. Esmil Rogers and three relievers mixed to permit only one hit, whereas the sport’s lone run got here on a double-play ball within the third inning.
Yunior Marte has reportedly signed with NPB’s Chunichii Dragons. The 30-year-old right-hander out of Santo Domingo appeared in 63 video games for the Philadelphia Phillies throughout the previous two seasons. He took the mound 39 instances for the San Francisco Giants in 2022.
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A random obscure former participant snapshot:
Pid Purdy had the excellence of enjoying in each MLB and the NFL. A local of Beatrice, Nebraska, Purdy — his given identify was Everett Virgil — took the sphere with the Chicago White Sox in 1926, the Cincinnati Reds from 1927-1929, and in addition with the Curly Lambeau-led Inexperienced Bay Packers in 1926 and 1927. On the gridiron, he kicked three subject objectives, 15 further factors, threw for a landing, and ran for an additional. On the diamond, he batted .293 with a pair of house runs over 569 plate appearances. Purdy additionally performed within the minors, seeing motion with groups together with the Lincoln Hyperlinks and Omaha Robin Hoods.
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“Which pitcher you’ve confronted has most had you considering, ‘’Man, that dude is nasty.’” I’ve requested that query to various prospects, however only recently I posed it to somebody who hasn’t swung a bat in skilled baseball for a full decade. Now the director of participant improvement for the Seattle Mariners, Justin Toole performed within the Cleveland system from 2009-2015.
“This may make me really feel previous, however Yordano Ventura,” the 38-year-old erstwhile infielder informed me. “When he was arising with Kansas Metropolis, I confronted him in Wilmington, with the Blue Rocks. This was in Excessive-A [in 2012]. I feel he was 102 or 103 [mph] with a few the fastballs I noticed. It was electrical stuff out of his hand. Clearly, his profession completed approach too quickly, however he was a man I vividly bear in mind moving into the field towards and being like, ‘Wow, that is completely different.’ It’s the toughest velo I noticed in my profession.”
Ventura pitched for the Royals from 2013-2016 earlier than dying tragically in a automotive accident within the Dominican Republic in January 2017. Toole topped out in Triple-A earlier than turning into a hitting coach, and subsequently Seattle’s farm director.
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LINKS YOU’LL LIKE
The Rating’s Travis Sawchik wrote about 4 gamers who may outperform expectations this yr, and 4 extra who’re candidates to underperform.
MLB.com’s Sarah Langs checked out 10 gamers who shall be vying for the document books in 2025.
Brew Crew Ball’s Paul Dietrich ranked the perfect trades in Milwaukee Brewers historical past.
Andscape’s Clinton Yates wrote about how CC Sabathia is hip-hop’s first baseball Corridor of Famer.
Jim Edmonds received’t be returning to the Cardinals’ broadcast sales space this yr, and he had lots to say about that call in a radio interview. Dan Caesar has the story at The St. Louis Put up-Dispatch.
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RANDOM FACTS AND STATS
Groups within the 1941 Interstate League included the Lancaster Purple Roses and Studying Brooks. Carl Furillo, who went on to play 15 seasons with the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers batted .311 for the Brooks.
Frank Robinson hit 19 of his 586 house runs with the Dodgers.
George Brett had 1,596 RBIs. Mike Schmidt had 1,595 RBIs.
Wade Boggs batted .332/.416/.425 with 34 doubles towards the Cleveland Indians. He batted .332/.418/.426 with 34 doubles towards the Kansas Metropolis Royals.
The Cleveland Indians signed Ron Kittle as a free agent on at this time’s date in 1988. Named AL Rookie of the Yr in 1983 after slugging 35 house runs for the Chicago White Sox, Kittle went deep 18 instances over 254 plate appearances in his lone Cleveland season.
The Brooklyn Robins signed Jack Quinn on (or about) at this time’s date in 1931. A local of Stefurov, Slovakia, the right-hander went on to make his remaining look two years later, six days after celebrating what’s believed to have been his fiftieth birthday. All informed, Quinn performed 23 MLB seasons and went 247-218 with 114 ERA+. His closest statistical comps, Purple Faber and Waite Hoyt, are each within the Corridor of Fame. Quinn shouldn’t be.
Gamers born on at this time’s date embody Robert Eenhoorn, a local of Rotterdam, the Netherlands who appeared in 37 video games whereas enjoying for the New York Yankees and California/Anaheim Angels from 1994-1997. An infielder throughout his enjoying days, Eenhorn went on to handle his homeland’s nationwide crew and be elected to the Dutch Baseball Corridor of Fame.
Additionally born on at this time’s date was Julie Wera, whose comparatively temporary big-league profession included his enjoying in 38 video games for the legendary 1927 New York Yankees. A local of Winona, Minnesota, Wera — his given identify was Julian Valentine — had 15 MLB hits, together with one house run. The dinger got here in a July 4 double-header that noticed the Bronx Bombers outscore the Washington Senators 33-2.
Moses Yellow Horse — one in every of a handful of gamers often called “Chief” throughout his bygone period — went 8-4 with a 3.93 ERA over 126 innings for the Pittsburgh Pirates throughout the 1921-1922 seasons. The pitcher from Pawnee, Oklahoma is believed to have been the primary full-blooded Native American to play in MLB.
Invoice Eagle went 4-for-13 in a short big-league profession wherein he appeared in 4 video games for the Nationwide League’s Washington Senators in 1898. The Rockville, Maryland native’s given identify was William Lycurgus.