After scary moment in spring, Lile looking to stand out in Nats outfield

PROSPECT REVIEW: DAYLEN LILE

Age on opening day 2025: 22

How acquired: Drafted in second round in 2021 from Trinity High School in Louisville, Ky.

Ranking: No. 12 per MLB Pipeline, No. 17 per Baseball America

MLB ETA: 2025
* Projected by MLB Pipeline

Signing bonus: $1.75 million

2024 levels: High-A Wilmington and Double-A Harrisburg

2024 stats: 130 G, 560 PA, 485 AB, 69 R, 127 H, 23 2B, 10 3B, 6 HR, 45 RBIs, 25 SB, 5 CS, 54 BB, 97 SO, .262 AVG, .347 OBP, .388 SLG, .735 OPS

Quotable: “It's truly a blessing because of what happened in spring training. A lot of people don't know what actually happened, and to be here, sitting up here, talking in front of y'all and having the season that I had, it was just a blessing. And I can't thank God anymore for where I am now today.” – Daylen Lile

2024 analysis: Lile’s year started with a scary moment in spring training. A minor league call-up for a Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox in Fort Myers, the young outfielder flipped over the right-center field wall and landed flat on his back. The frightening scene resulted in him being carted off the field and taken to a local hospital, where he would spend the night.

Thankfully, Lile received the best-case results after testing and was released the next day. After missing all of the 2022 season, he was not going to let another injury slow down his development.

Lile bounced back from that potential career-threatening injury to have another solid season on the Nationals farm. Starting the year at Wilmington, he hit .271 with a .762 OPS, 17 extra-base hits, 24 RBIs, 14 stolen bases in 16 attempts and 21 walks to 39 strikeouts in 57 games.

The Nats promoted him to Harrisburg in June, where he had encouraging results in his first taste of Double-A ball. He hit .255 with a .714 OPS, 15 doubles, four triples, three homers, 21 RBIs, 11 stolen bases in 14 chances and 33 walks in 73 games with the Senators. The only downside was he struck out at a higher rate with 58 punchouts.

Defensively, he was strong at all three outfield positions, committing only four errors all season. He spent most of his time in left field, where most project his arm and range are best suited, and had a .993 fielding percentage and 148 putouts across both levels.

Lile’s perseverance to have a good season after the spring training injury helped him be named one of two winners of the Nationals Way Award, which is given to the Nats minor leaguers who best demonstrate the professionalism, leadership, loyalty, passion, selflessness, durability, determination and work ethic required to play the game the “Washington Nationals Way.”

2025 outlook: Lile proved that he still belongs in the Nats’ large group of outfielders. Getting up to Double-A and having some success was an important step for him in 2024.

Now the question is: How can he separate himself from the pack in 2025?

His command of the strike zone is better than some of his fellow prospects. Overall, his strikeout rate is on the lower side while his walk rate remains on the higher side. Although he did strike out more frequently at Double-A (which was to be expected), he also increased his walk rate to over 10 percent.

Where Lile struggles is in the power department. Yes, he makes contact. But it’s more line drives and ground balls than home runs. He only had 39 extra-base hits this year, with just six leaving the yard. That means he usually has to rely on his speed to slug.

His arm strength, especially after Tommy John surgery in 2022, also limits him defensively. While his speed gives him good range, his arm probably keeps him in left field. And while that’s where he played most of the year, his only two outfield assists came in right while with Wilmington.

If Lile can get those power numbers up while still making contact and drawing walks, he’ll provide even more value to the Nats’ already loaded group of outfielders.