Lile bounced back from injury in 2023, but is there room for him in Nats outfield?

PROSPECT REVIEW: DAYLEN LILE

Age on opening day 2024: 21

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

Ranking: No. 6 per MLB Pipeline, No. 14 per Baseball America

MLB ETA: 2025
* Projected by MLB Pipeline

Signing bonus: $1.75 million

2023 levels: Single-A Fredericksburg and High-A Wilmington

2023 stats: 106 G, 465 PA, 405 AB, 65 R, 109 H, 27 2B, 10 3B, 9 HR, 66 RBIs, 23 SB, 6 CS, 52 BB, 99 SO, .269 AVG, .355 OBP, .452 SLG, .807 OPS

Quotable: “It felt like something was taken away from me that I love. It was so hard, but I mean, the guys that I had around me like Carter Kieboom, he was down here with me and I just picked his brain about certain stuff. He's helped me along the way, being a big leaguer and then coming through the ranks. It's actually really helped me having him by my side.” – Daylen Lile

2023 analysis: Lile’s goal for 2023 was just playing ball. After missing all of 2022 due to Tommy John surgery the year after he was drafted, getting back on the field was good enough for him.

He had some help along the way, mentioning during spring training that he spent a lot of time rehabbing with Kieboom, who was also recovering from Tommy John. Whatever advice Lile received, it clicked with the 20-year-old outfielder.

Not only did Lile return to play 106 games this year, he also put up some strong numbers to make sure people hadn’t forgotten about him.

Starting in Fredericksburg, Lile slashed .291/.381/.510 with an .891 OPS, 20 doubles, seven triples, seven home runs, 48 RBIs and 36 walks to 58 strikeouts. He also swiped 21 of 24 attempted bags. He was named a Carolina League All-Star despite not finishing the season in the league.

After hitting .364 with a 1.160 OPS over nine games in July, Lile was promoted to Wilmington for the first time. He started his first stint at High-A strong, hitting .270 with an .800 OPS over his first nine games. But he failed to keep it up while adjusting to a higher level (and Wilmington’s pitcher-friendly ballpark) by hitting just .207 with a .569 OPS in August.

Lile made up for it a little bit in September, hitting .257 with a .754 OPS over his last eight games to raise his final High-A average to .234 and OPS to .667.

Defensively, Lile appeared in all three outfield spots, but spent most of his time in left and center. He made most of his starts with Fredericksburg in left, but most of his starts with Wilmington in center.

2024 outlook: Lile reached his goal of getting back on the field in 2023. Playing 106 games and earning his first promotion was just icing on top.

Hopefully, Lile’s skill set continues to grow next year as he further removes himself from missing out on a crucial 2022 year of development. Offense has always been the strongest aspect of his game. He has impressive walk rates to start his professional career that show patience at the plate while also proving to be a line-drive hitter when he makes contact.

Where Lile will run into trouble (through no fault of his own) is that the Nats system is now loaded with outfield talent. To keep up with the likes of Dylan Crews, James Wood, Robert Hassell III and Elijah Green, Lile will have to reach his full offensive potential and prove his bat belongs. Not to mention he was scouted to have an average arm even before Tommy John.

Unfortunately for Lile, right now he doesn’t seem like a good candidate to move to another position. His average speed and below-average glove make it difficult for him to easily transition to the infield. And his shorter 5-foot-11 frame is less than ideal to play first base, where T.J. White (6-foot-2) moved this year.

Nevertheless, Lile provides excellent outfield depth for the Nationals. And despite being a second-round pick, missing his first full season due to injury and being in a group of elite outfielders, he is still ranked as the Nats’ No. 6 prospect per MLB Pipeline.

Whether or not he has a future in the Nationals outfield remains to be seen.