Greetings from Philadelphia! Welcome to the latest MLB Pipeline edition of the Nationals Beat newsletter. This is your stop for the latest on and off the field, from news to exclusive player interviews and insights, brought to you by MLB.com club reporter Jessica Camerato. As the Nationals tracked swing decisions during Spring Training, Daylen Lile was atop the leaderboard in his first Major League camp. The Nats’ No. 9 prospect has carried that momentum into the season for Double-A Harrisburg. Lile extended his hitting streak to 14 games with a third-inning home run against the Reading Fightin Phils on Tuesday night. He also doubled and scored in the seventh. During this streak, Lile is 23-for-62 (.371) with four doubles, two triples, two home runs, 13 RBIs, three walks, 16 runs scored and six stolen bases. |
“It doesn't surprise me,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said pregame on Tuesday. “He's got a really nice swing. He hits the ball hard, stays in the middle of the field. He's a really good player. He loves to play the game, but he's very intense. He goes out there and plays the game the right way, and I love what he's doing. He's hitting the ball really, really well.”
Lile leads the entire Eastern League with 29 hits. Among all Nationals Minor Leaguers, he entered Tuesday ranked second in batting average, hits and runs and tied for second in extra-base hits and stolen bases.
“His athleticism is really good, he's got five tools, and his plate discipline is really, really good, too,” Dylan Crews said. “So that stands out to me the most. … His bat-to-ball skills are tremendous, too. Being able to hit anything at any moment, and if it's close, he's going to fight it off, and if anything, put it in play.” |
Lile, 22, hit .240 with an .801 OPS in 17 Grapefruit League games during Spring Training this year. The outfielder began the season in Harrisburg, where he also played in the second half of last year. Lile was the second-youngest position player in Nationals big league camp. A 2021 second-round Draft pick out of high school, he missed the entire 2022 season because of Tommy John surgery.
“It’s sick,” said Jacob Young, who was in Lile’s Draft class. “It’s not surprising, but it’s exciting. I think everyone saw this spring where he got much better at ... pitch selection, and he was a lot pickier in Spring Training. … I think he's obviously taken that to the season. And then his swing is very consistent to the point where he hits a lot of line drives.”
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MLB MORNING LINEUP PODCAST |
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Which pitcher recorded seven strikeouts and notched a career-high three RBIs 10 years ago on April 29, 2015, against the Braves?
A. Doug Fister
B. Max Scherzer
C. Stephen Strasburg
D. Jordan Zimmermann |
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Infielder Paul DeJong underwent surgery to repair a fractured nose, which he sustained after being hit in the face by a fastball from Mitch Keller on April 15 at PNC Park. Martinez spoke with DeJong on Tuesday, and he expects it will be around a month before DeJong can resume baseball activities. “It’s just about healing with him right now,” said Martinez. “But his spirits were good. We talked a little bit about [the hit by pitch] again today. He wanted to make sure that I saw what he saw, that he didn’t lean into the pitch. I go, ‘No, you did not do that. But I’m glad you’re OK and that you’re breathing well.’” The next step for DeJong will be an eye exam. |
MLB GRIT: GIRLS ID TOUR STOPS IN DC |
COMING SOON: SUMMER CONCERT SERIES |
The Nats Postgame Summer Concert Series begins next week with the first of six performances. Here is the 2025 lineup of concerts, which begin approximately 30 minutes after the final out. - O.A.R.: May 9 vs. St. Louis Cardinals
- Natasha Bedingfield: June 6 vs. Texas Rangers
- Nelly: June 13 vs. Miami Marlins
- Sam Hunt: Aug. 15 vs. Philadelphia Phillies
- Ja Rule/Ashanti: Aug. 29 vs. Tampa Bay Rays
- Riley Green: Sept. 26 vs. Chicago White Sox
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