Lile (back) is listed among the Nationals prospects on the "Futures Roster" for Tuesday's exhibition against current Washington players, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Lile had been attending big-league spring training with the Nationals but didn't appear in any Grapefruit League games since March 2, when he was carted off the field after a collision with the outfield wall. He was fortunate to avoid a serious injury and was diagnosed with a lower-back contusion. Lile was cleared to resume full baseball activities more than a week ago, so assuming he's able to play Tuesday without issue, he should be ready to go for the start of the minor-league season. Lile is likely to open the 2024 season with High-A Wilmington.
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Nationals' Daylen Lile: Could play in games this week
Rotowire
Lile (back) remained a spectator Friday in the Nationals' Spring Breakout game against the Mets, but he's been cleared for all baseball activities and should be ready to play in games as soon as this upcoming week, Spencer Nusbaum of The Washington Post reports.
Lile has been out of action since he was taken off the field in a stretcher during a March 2 game against the Red Sox after flipping over an outfield wall trying to snag a home run. The outfield prospect was fortunate to avoid a significant injury, as he was diagnosed with a lower-back contusion following an MRI. If Lile is able to resume playing in Grapefruit League or minor-league games on the backfields of camp this week, he should be ready to go for the start of the minor-league season in early April.
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Nationals' Daylen Lile: Carted off field
Rotowire
Lile was carted off the field during Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox after suffering an apparent neck injury, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Shortly after entering Saturday's game, Lile jumped over the outfield wall in an effort to rob Tyler Miller of a home run and landed head first into the Red Sox's bullpen. Lile remained on the ground for a while and was eventually carted off the field with his neck in a brace. The Nationals will surely take a look at him and offer more details soon, but a lengthy absence may be in store for the 21-year-old outfield prospect.
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Nationals' Daylen Lile: Jumps to High-A
Rotowire
Lile was promoted Tuesday to HIgh-A Wilmington, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Lile did not play in 2022 as he recovered from Tommy John surgery, but he has earned a quick bump to High-A ball after slashing .291/.381/.510 with seven homers, 48 RBI, 21 stolen bases and 49 runs scored in 66 games this season for Single-A Fredericksburg. The young outfielder was selected by the Nationals in the second round of the 2021 First-Year Player Draft out of a Kentucky high school.
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Nationals' Daylen Lile: Strong full-season debut
Rotowire
Lile is hitting .297 with a .387 OBP, three home runs, eight steals and a 19.3 percent strikeout rate in 26 games for Single-A Fredericksburg.
A second-round pick in 2021, Lile missed all of 2022 after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Known primarily for his hit tool as an amateur, Lile has shown zero rust after all the missed time. His 8-for-9 success rate on the bases probably oversells his stolen-base upside in the majors, as he is typically listed as an average runner on scouting reports.
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Nationals' Daylen Lile: Available for camp
Rotowire
Lile (elbow) is listed as an available reserve outfielder for the Nationals in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Lile won't be a direct substitute for any of Washington's three outfield starters on the day (Alex Call, Derek Hill and Stone Garrett), but his presence on the team's travel squad is an indication that he's healthy for spring training. A 2021 second-round draft pick, the 20-year-old Lile missed the entire the 2022 campaign while recovering from the Tommy John surgery he underwent last March.
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Nationals' Daylen Lile: On mend from Tommy John surgery
Rotowire
Lile underwent Tommy John surgery in March, Sam Dykstra of MLB.com reports.
With Lile being a position player, it's not a lock that he will miss the entire year, but it seems likely. Selected out of high school with the 47th overall pick in last year's draft, Lile will turn 20 in November. He should be a full-go in 2023.
