Follow the Prospects: Robert Hassell III, OF

[DCsOwn]

Law's latest on Hassell:

• Robert Hassell III came over with Wood in the Juan Soto trade, and his year has been the most disappointing of any of the quintet of prospects the Nats received in that deal, as he’s hit just .225/.318/.325 for Harrisburg this year, and really hasn’t hit at all since the swap – his overall line in 112 games in the Nats’ system is .220/.322/.313, a far cry from the .302/.390/.469 line he put up in the Padres’ system. It’s a little of everything, but the biggest problem I could see is that he lacks strength. He’s putting the ball on the ground too often and not making much hard contact at all, nowhere near as much as he’ll need to make to profile as a regular, and worse, he’s fouling off a lot of fastballs he should be able to hit. The strikeout rate is too high, but he’s not chasing much, and he’s not swinging and missing excessively in the zone, so all is not lost, but he’s got to add a lot of muscle this offseason.

https://theathletic.com/4870978/2023/09/18/scouting-boston-red-sox-washington-nationals/?source=emp_shared_article

Also, I should add, support Law's work if possible. He's about as good as it gets in terms of prospect writers that write for public consumption.

[RD]

I'm hoping a healthy off season of working out will help him get stronger. I think that was the bigger issue this past off season with the hamate injury. Not just the baseball missed but he couldn't work out to get stronger for the season.  This is a very important off season for him.

[DCsOwn]

I'm hoping a healthy off season of working out will help him get stronger. I think that was the bigger issue this past off season with the hamate injury. Not just the baseball missed but he couldn't work out to get stronger for the season.  This is a very important off season for him.

Agreed.

[DPMOmaha]

Seems to me he's right on track for a standard hamate recovery.

[nobleisthyname]

Only turned 22 a month ago. I expect he's going to fall off most top prospect lists over the offseason but there's still plenty of time for him to turn it around.

[imref]

.281   .349   .351 in his 62 September PAs.

Really not worried about him at all.

[Mattionals]

Kind of bizarre that Law left out that he had hamate surgery after (during?) the AFL last year and the lack of power is pretty well documented with guys recovering from hamate surgery.

[Natsinpwc]

.281   .349   .351 in his 62 September PAs.

Really not worried about him at all.

Well that is a .700 OPS in Double A. Which means he is not ready for MLB.  Still 33 so he has some time. 

[imref]

Well that is a .700 OPS in Double A. Which means he is not ready for MLB.  Still 33 so he has some time. 

22

[Natsinpwc]

Well that is a .700 OPS in Double A. Which means he is not ready for MLB.  Still 33 so he has some time.

Should have written  XXII.

[aspenbubba]

Didn’t Zimmerman have hamate surgery at one point in his career ? That would be a good comp to see if his power decreased that year.

[Slateman]

Didn’t Zimmerman have hamate surgery at one point in his career ? That would be a good comp to see if his power decreased that year.

Zim had the surgery to remove the bone in November of 2007

His 2008 slash line was .283/.333/.442, and he hit .257/.291/.427 in the first half

[nobleisthyname]

Zim had the surgery to remove the bone in November of 2007

His 2008 slash line was .283/.333/.442, and he hit .257/.291/.427 in the first half

Definitely a power decrease, but not a massive one.

[Slateman]

Definitely a power decrease, but not a massive one.

Eh, his ISO was .159 that year. That is the lowest of any season he played 130 games or more. And, in the two seasons after 2008, he had ISOs of .233 and .204. In the season before, he had an ISO of .191.

I'd say it was a fairly substantial decrease

[nobleisthyname]

Eh, his ISO was .159 that year. That is the lowest of any season he played 130 games or more. And, in the two seasons after 2008, he had ISOs of .233 and .204. In the season before, he had an ISO of .191.

I'd say it was a fairly substantial decrease

Right, but a .159 ISO would make basically make him the best power hitter on this season's team after Thomas. That's of course not saying much, but it isn't zero power, which is all I was trying to say really.

[imref]

So sign Robles and open the year with Robles in CF, Crews in RF, and Thomas in LF and Young as the 4th OF. If Wood and Hassell are ready at some point next year, trade Robles and Hassell for help elsewhere. So by August 1st, Wood/Crews/Thomas in the OF with Young still as the 4th

[welch]

So sign Robles and open the year with Robles in CF, Crews in RF, and Thomas in LF and Young as the 4th OF. If Wood and Hassell are ready at some point next year, trade Robles and Hassell for help elsewhere. So by August 1st, Wood/Crews/Thomas in the OF with Young still as the 4th

I think Crews will need a few months hitting AA and AAA pitching. Maybe start the year with Robles and Young in CF, Thomas in RF, and a big ? in LF. Hope for Crews in late June. Spring decides Young or Robles. All that assumes Robles has recovered from his back injury.

[RD]

So sign Robles and open the year with Robles in CF, Crews in RF, and Thomas in LF and Young as the 4th OF. If Wood and Hassell are ready at some point next year, trade Robles and Hassell for help elsewhere. So by August 1st, Wood/Crews/Thomas in the OF with Young still as the 4th

I think Crews is up as well. I wouldnt read too much into his AA struggles. It's been a long season. He's played 106 games this year. Not just the games for the first time, but LSU started playing in mid February, back when most pros are reporting for Spring Training. He's been playing games for 7 months. Not to mention climbing 3 levels of the pro ranks in 8 weeks. It's a lot of moving around and a lot of baseball.

Also, it's not like guys just pick up where they left off the year before. There are improvements made in the off season, and hiw they play in the Spring matters. I think Crews' advanced approach and talent are going to fare well, and he'll be ready to possibly break camp with the big league team.

Of course he may struggle, like any of our guys. But a good Spring and I think Crews makes the club.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I'm hoping a healthy off season of working out will help him get stronger. I think that was the bigger issue this past off season with the hamate injury. Not just the baseball missed but he couldn't work out to get stronger for the season.  This is a very important off season for him.

any indication of whether he's piling up the Ks by taking strikes? There' a mention that he doesn't swing and miss much in the K Law quote above RD's post. If that is the case, then I suppose he can become more aggressive and take fewer strikes, especially with the hamate a year removed from surgery and more strength.

[imref]

so far in the AFL: .316 BA / .777 OPS, hit his first HR yesterday.

[nobleisthyname]

so far in the AFL: .316 BA / .777 OPS, hit his first HR yesterday.

Good contact but still seems to be struggling with power to have a sub-.800 OPS.

[Slateman]

Always had a limited power tool. Can he play good defensebin CF is what I want to know

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Always had a limited power tool. Can he play good defensebin CF is what I want to know

only need one CF to stick among him, Crews, Wood, Young . . . Even Pinckney is playing some CF.

[aspenbubba]

I can't recall but who was it that had a great AFL last year or the year before? Was it Alu? The reason I'm asking is I don't believe the excitement over Hassell is warranted.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I can't recall but who was it that had a great AFL last year or the year before? Was it Alu? The reason I'm asking is I don't believe the excitement over Hassell is warranted.

a few years ago it was Jackson Cluff.