Washington Nationals Rookie Daylen Lile Exits Game With Left Knee Injury After Sliding Catch Attempt

FLUSHING, New York - Washington Nationals rookie outfielder Daylen Lile suffered a left knee contusion during Sunday’s game against the New York Mets, forcing him to exit in the bottom of the third inning. The injury happened when Lile collided hard with the left-field wall while attempting a sliding catch on a sinking line drive hit by Cedric Mullins.

In the third inning, with Luis Torrens on second base, Mullins singled to left field prompting Lile to chase the ball near the foul line. As he slid to make the catch, Lile slammed his left knee into the padded fence, clearly showing signs of pain and distress. Although a wheelchair was brought out for assistance, Lile stood up and walked off the field under his own power with only a slight limp. He was subsequently replaced by fellow rookie Robert Hassell III.

This injury follow-up comes after Lile’s impressive performance the previous day when he hit a two-run, inside-the-park home run that helped secure the Nationals’ 5-3 win over the Mets. Before leaving Sunday’s game, Lile was 1-for-1 with a run scored, maintaining a strong season average of .290 with 7 home runs, 35 RBIs, and 11 triples, tying for third most in the majors.

His injury status remains uncertain, with initial X-rays returning negative, but his availability for upcoming games will be closely monitored.