Robert Hassell III
Photo via Rochester Red Wings
Robert Hassell III received the promotion he had been eagerly awaiting this afternoon. He will begin his second opportunity as a Washington National on Friday night when Milwaukee visits DC.
Washington Nationals news:
Robert Hassell III to be called up from the @RocRedWings due to the Alex Call trade, source tells the Nats Report.
(Photo via @RocRedWings)
— #TheNatsReport 🇺🇸 ⚾ (#@TheNatsReport)
9:52 PM • Jul 31, 2025
Hassell was first called up to Washington on May 21st and remained with the team until being optioned back to Rochester on June 16th. During his initial stint with the Nationals, he appeared in 21 games and had 78 at-bats, recording two extra-base hits—a double and a home run—as well as eight RBIs. Offensively, he posted a .218 batting average and a .497 OPS, drawing one walk but striking out 21 times.
Upon returning to Rochester in mid-June, Hassell showed a renewed determination, symbolized by his short haircut and focused mindset. What started as fierce determination quickly transformed into confidence and an unwavering focus—not just on each game, but on every pitch and every inning. His strong desire to return to the majors clearly drove his progress.
By late June, I noticed a different player than the one I saw in April. Rather than trying to pull every pitch with power, Hassell adapted to hitting the ball where it was pitched. He became more patient at the plate, increasing his walk rate and cutting down on strikeouts by avoiding chasing pitches outside the strike zone, forcing pitchers to battle harder throughout each at-bat.
In 76 games with Rochester this season, Hassell’s batting line was an impressive .310/.383/.839, driving in 49 runs. Comparing his first stint in Washington with his performance in Rochester: in Washington, his walk rate was 7% against a 24% strikeout rate. In Rochester, the strikeout rate lowered significantly to 17%, while his walk rate rose to 11%, reflecting clear offensive improvement fueled by his renewed focus and discipline.
Defensively, Hassell has consistently been excellent. This season, he’s hit 10 home runs, 23 doubles, and stolen 16 bases in 19 attempts. Manager Matt LeCroy settled Hassell into the leadoff spot, allowing him to thrive. Just last week, he led off two consecutive games against first-place Scranton with home runs.
Many outstanding major leaguers have had to return to the minors multiple times before finding sustained success. Robert Hassell III looks ready to make that leap.