Scouting Report

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Scouting grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 50 | Run: 55 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 55

Hassell's offseason started and ended well, as he was the best all-around hitter and pitched well at the inaugural PDP League in June and July and led the U.S. national team in virtually every offensive category and batted .514/.548/.886 at the under-18 World Cup in South Korea in September. He struggled at times in between, particularly when he got too focused on trying to hit for power. There's some split opinion as to the quality of his tools beyond his bat, but he should be one of the first prep position players taken and the first from Tennessee selected in the first round since Mike White in 1986.

The best pure hitter in the 2020 prep class, Hassell has a pretty left-handed stroke and the hand-eye coordination to barrel balls with ease. He's at his best when he lashes line drives to all fields but his swing got too uphill when he made a conscious effort to hit homers in the middle of the summer. There's some debate as to how much pop he'll ultimately have, with some scouts envisioning solid raw power and believing he'll tap into most of it, while other evaluators think he's more lean than projectable and more of a 15-homer guy.

Similarly, Hassell's biggest boosters believe he could have solid or better tools across the board with a chance to stick in center field and other scouts think his bat and arm are his only above-average attributes and he'll have to play a corner. Clocked up to 93 mph on the mound, he definitely has enough arm to play right field. The Vanderbilt recruit is a legitimate prospect as a pitcher as well but has a much higher ceiling as a hitter.

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 40 | Run: 55 | Arm: 55 | Field: 55 | Overall: 45

Hassell was the first high-schooler selected in the shortened 2020 Draft, going eighth overall to the Padres, and a .323/.415/.482 line in 92 games with Single-A Lake Elsinore in his first full season made him an even more prominent prospect. He was a solid performer at High-A Fort Wayne in 2022, and that helped make him one of the Nationals’ biggest pieces in the Juan Soto blockbuster trade with the Padres that August. Hassell has struggled at the Double-A level since with a broken hamate suffered in the 2022 Arizona Fall League mixed in. He slashed just .225/.316/.324 with eight homers and a 31.9 percent K rate over 106 games for Harrisburg last season before rebounding a bit in his second AFL turn.

Isolate Hassell’s swing, and you can still see what made many believe in his hit tool since his amateur days. It’s a classically beautiful left-handed stroke, starting with a slight toe tap that helps stays him on time and can keep him back on pitches that need to be driven the other way. His strikeout rate did jump in 2023 as he particularly struggled against breaking balls, but he didn’t chase often either with Harrisburg. However, there’s still a lot of contact on the ground (53.1 percent at Double-A), and while power has always been a concern, it’s still an open question how much the hamate injury affected Hassell in his return.

The Tennessee native still flashes above-average speed, and he cycled through all three spots on the grass in Harrisburg’s loaded second-half outfield alongside James Wood and Dylan Crews. His arm strength would work in right full-time if that’s what a roster dictates, but entering his age-22 season, Hassell will need to turn the bat around to meet his everyday ceiling. More issues with the wrist/hand/thumb area, stemming from the hamate, have stalled out some of Hassell's progress in 2024, though the Nationals are hoping he can still fulfill his potential once absolutely healthy.

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 45 | Run: 55 | Arm: 55 | Field: 55 | Overall: 50

Hassell was the first prep player off the board in 2020 when he went No. 8 to the Padres, and after initially moving to San Diego’s alternate site, he looked every bit like his prep scouting report when he batted .323 with an .897 OPS in 92 games at Single-A Lake Elsinore in his first full season. He was off to a solid start (.299/.379/.467 in 75 games) at High-A Fort Wayne when he was dealt to the Nationals in the Juan Soto blockbuster. Struggles at Double-A Harrisburg and a broken hamate that kept him out of the Arizona Fall League took the shine off 2022, but Hassell is still only in his age-21 season in 2023.

Starting with a toe tap, Hassell tends to see the ball well out of the hand and has long been praised for his ability to make contact through a classically beautiful left-handed swing. The Nationals believe he may have gotten too steep in his bat path late in 2022, leading to a lot of pull-side groundballs, but even after a full year to adjust in the Nats' system, Hassell still hasn't hit as expected at Double-A Harrisburg, where he carried a K rate north of 30 percent into early August. His supporters have always believed average power will come, but it hasn’t yet either in terms of true slugging numbers or exit velocity.

Though he faced pre-Draft questions about his defensive ability, Hassell has the above-average speed and arm to be a solid center fielder. The latter could help in right field too, if he needs to move to a corner due to the presence of James Wood and Elijah Green in the system. In the end, more discernible power would go a long way toward establishing the Tennessee native’s place in the Nats’ future.

Scouting grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 50 | Run: 55 | Arm: 55 | Field: 55 | Overall: 55

Hassell was the best all-around hitter at the inaugural Prospect Development Pipeline League in 2019, then led the U.S. national team in almost every offensive category while batting .514/.548/.886 at the under-18 World Cup in South Korea later that year. Though there were varying opinions about the quality of his tools beyond his bat, he became the first high school player (No. 8 overall) taken in the 2020 Draft. The first Tennessee prep position player selected in the first round since Mike White in 1986, he signed for a below-slot $4.3 million. Hassell impressed at the Padres’ alternate training site in 2020, then starred in his full-season debut, hitting .302/.393/.470 over 110 games across two levels of Class-A ball. He was a main prospect piece for the Nationals in the Aug. 2 blockbuster that sent Juan Soto to San Diego.

Hassell established himself as the best pure high school hitter in his Draft class and his advanced bat-to-ball skills immediately translated to pro ball. With a left-handed swing that is geared toward driving the ball to the middle and opposite fields, Hassell projects as a plus hitter. He controls the zone well and shows a solid approach, though there is still room for him to grow as a power threat. The Padres expected his power numbers to increase as he added strength to his 6-foot-2, 195-pound frame, and it’ll be on the Nats to continue that growth.

Prior to the Draft, Hassell faced questions about his defensive profile, with some scouts labeling him as more of a corner outfielder than a true center fielder. Those concerns have quieted a bit as he exceeded expectations defensively in his full-season debut. An above-average runner with good range, Hassell reads the ball well and his jumps and anticipation give him a chance to remain in center. If he does move to a corner, he has plenty of arm strength -- he was clocked up to 93 mph off the mound in high school -- to profile in right field.

Scouting grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 50 | Run: 55 | Arm: 55 | Field: 55 | Overall: 55

Hassell was the best all-around hitter and pitched well at the inaugural Prospect Development Pipeline League last June and July, then led the U.S. national team in almost every offensive category while batting .514/.548/.886 at the under-18 World Cup in South Korea in September. Though there was some split opinion about the quality of his tools beyond his bat, he became the first high school player (No. 8 overall) taken in the 2020 Draft. The first Tennessee prep position player selected in the first round since Mike White in 1986, he signed for a below-slot $4.3 million. Hassell was impressive as the youngest mainstay at the Padres’ alternate training site, then turned in an eye-opening performance during fall instructional league to tie a bow on his first pro experience.

Hassell separated himself from his peers as the best pure high school hitter in the 2020 Draft. A combination of excellent hand-eye coordination and physical strength allows Hassell to repeatedly barrel balls with his impactful left-handed swing. He gets good plate coverage with his long arms and lashes line drives to all fields when he’s at his best, projecting as a plus hitter. He controls the zone well for a young player, showing on-base skills on top of the natural hitting ability. Padres officials are increasingly confident that Hassell will exceed his power projections in the pro ranks, and they point to his currently hitting ability and remaining physical development as reasons to be optimistic.

Hassell faced questions about his defensive profile ahead of the Draft, with some scouts pegging him as more of a corner outfielder in the pro ranks than a true center fielder. That is less of a concern now after Hassell, an above-average runner, performed very well defensively at the premium position in instructional camp, leading some club officials to peg him as the organization's best defensive outfielder. He could become an even better defender at an outfield corner and has more than enough arm strength -- he was clocked up to 93 mph off the mound in high school -- to play right field.

Scouting grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 50 | Run: 55 | Arm: 55 | Field: 60 | Overall: 55

Hassell was the best all-around hitter and pitched well at the inaugural Prospect Development Pipeline League last June and July, then led the U.S. national team in almost every offensive category while batting .514/.548/.886 at the under-18 World Cup in South Korea in September. Though there was some split opinion as to the quality of his tools beyond his bat, he became the first high school player (No. 8 overall) taken in the 2020 Draft. The first Tennessee prep position player selected in the first round since Mike White in 1986, he signed for a below-slot $4.3 million. 

The best pure hitter in the 2020 high school class, Hassell has a pretty left-handed swing and the hand-eye coordination to repeatedly barrel balls. He's at his best when he focuses on lashing line drives to all fields, but his stroke got too uphill when he made a concerted effort to hunt homers during the middle of the showcase circuit last summer. Scouts debate how much power he'll ultimately produce -- some project solid raw pop and believe he'll tap into most of it, while others see him as more lean than projectable and envision him as a 15-homer guy. 

There's also debate about Hassell's profile, with his proponents viewing him as a plus defender who can stick in center field. Other evaluators think his bat and arm are his only above-average attributes and see him landing on an outfield corner. Clocked up to 93 mph on the mound and a legitimate prospect as a pitcher, he definitely has enough arm to play right field.

Awards

EAS Player of the Week

Week	Team
05/05/2024

MiLB.com Organization All-Star

Year	Team
2022
2021

MID Post-Season All-Star

Year	Team
2022

Futures Game Selection

Year	Team
2022

CAL Post-Season All-Star

Year	Team
2021

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	09/25/2024	CF Robert Hassell III assigned to Salt River Rafters.
	09/02/2024	OF Robert Hassell III assigned to Rochester Red Wings from Harrisburg Senators.
	08/20/2024	Harrisburg Senators activated OF Robert Hassell III from the 7-day injured list.
	08/06/2024	Harrisburg Senators sent OF Robert Hassell III on a rehab assignment to Wilmington Blue Rocks.
	08/06/2024	Harrisburg Senators sent OF Robert Hassell III on a rehab assignment to Wilmington Blue Rocks.
	06/12/2024	Harrisburg Senators placed OF Robert Hassell III on the 7-day injured list.
	06/12/2024	Harrisburg Senators placed OF Robert Hassell III on the 7-day injured list.
	03/07/2024	Washington Nationals Prospects activated OF Robert Hassell III.
	03/07/2024	Washington Nationals Prospects activated OF Robert Hassell III.
	01/30/2024	Washington Nationals invited non-roster OF Robert Hassell III to spring training.
	09/22/2023	Scottsdale Scorpions activated OF Robert Hassell III.
	05/02/2023	Harrisburg Senators activated OF Robert Hassell III from the 7-day injured list.
	05/02/2023	Harrisburg Senators activated OF Robert Hassell III from the 7-day injured list.
	05/02/2023	Harrisburg Senators activated OF Robert Hassell III from the 7-day injured list.
	04/12/2023	Harrisburg Senators sent OF Robert Hassell III on a rehab assignment to Fredericksburg Nationals.
	04/06/2023	Harrisburg Senators placed OF Robert Hassell III on the 7-day injured list.
	09/16/2022	Peoria Javelinas activated OF Robert Hassell III.
	09/16/2022	Peoria Javelinas activated OF Robert Hassell III.
	08/16/2022	OF Robert Hassell III assigned to Harrisburg Senators from Wilmington Blue Rocks.
	08/16/2022	Harrisburg Senators activated OF Robert Hassell III.
	08/16/2022	Harrisburg Senators activated OF Robert Hassell III.
	08/02/2022	Washington Nationals traded LF Juan Soto and 1B Josh Bell to San Diego Padres for 1B Luke Voit, LHP MacKenzie Gore, SS C.J. Abrams, OF Robert Hassell III, OF James Wood and RHP Jarlin Susana.
	08/02/2022	OF Robert Hassell III assigned to Wilmington Blue Rocks.
	07/22/2022	Fort Wayne TinCaps activated OF Robert Hassell III from the temporarily inactive list.
	07/16/2022	Fort Wayne TinCaps placed OF Robert Hassell III on the temporarily inactive list.
	07/16/2022	Fort Wayne TinCaps activated OF Robert Hassell III.
	07/07/2022	OF Robert Hassell III and assigned to National League Futures.
	06/11/2022	Fort Wayne TinCaps activated OF Robert Hassell III from the 7-day injured list.
	06/02/2022	Fort Wayne TinCaps placed OF Robert Hassell III on the 7-day injured list.
	03/22/2022	OF Robert Hassell III and assigned to San Diego Padres.
	08/28/2021	OF Robert Hassell III assigned to Fort Wayne TinCaps from Lake Elsinore Storm.
	05/04/2021	OF Robert Hassell III assigned to Lake Elsinore Storm from AZL Padres 1.
	02/12/2021	San Diego Padres invited non-roster OF Robert Hassell III to spring training.
	02/12/2021	OF Robert Hassell III assigned to San Diego Padres .
	02/12/2021	San Diego Padres invited non-roster OF Robert Hassell III to spring training.
	09/29/2020	CF Robert Hassell III assigned to AZL Padres 1 from Padres Alternate Training Site.
	07/19/2020	CF Robert Hassell III assigned to Padres Alternate Training Site from AZL Padres 1.
	06/28/2020	CF Robert Hassell III assigned to AZL Padres 1.
	06/23/2020	San Diego Padres signed CF Robert Hassell III.
	08/08/2019	OF Robert Hassell III assigned to PG East.
	07/19/2019	CF Robert Hassell assigned to UA American.