Washington Nationals Robert Hassell III Prepared For Second Big League Stint With Revamped Swing

Hassell has made some changes to his swing since being sent back down to Triple-A in June, and it’s allowing him to hit for more power while staying more patient

Robert Hassell III’s first stint in the major leagues did not go great. In 21 games, he posted a 35 wRC+, 0.05 BB/K ratio, and -0.5 fWAR. He flashed some impressive traits like his excellent arm, great speed, and solid bat-to-ball skills, but showed several holes in his game, such as below-average range and a lack of plate discipline. He was sent down during the Nationals 11 11-game losing streak in June, but should make his return to the big league club after the trade deadline with several players soon to be off the roster.

How has Hassell looked since his demotion? In a word, improved. Upon his return to the Red Wings lineup, eagle-eyed fans picked up on the fact that Hassell had made a change to his swing, specifically with his lower body. Before his second minor league stint, Hassell had been using a toe tap with his swing all year, beneficial in producing lots of contact, but more difficult to produce power from. Now, Hassell has added a leg kick to his swing, and the results have been very impressive. Just look at the difference in the numbers:

Robert Hassell III First Minor League Stint: 42 Games, .288 AVG, 7 2Bs, 4 HRs, 12 BBs, 34 Ks, 0.35 BB/K

Robert Hassell III Second Minor League Stint: 30 Games, .339 AVG, 5 2Bs, 6 HRs, 19 BBs, 22 Ks, 0.86 BB/K

For reference, here is how Hassell’s swing looked at the beginning of the season:

And here it is now:

Hassell’s revamped swing is doing 2 major things for him so far in his minor league return. The first is that it is allowing him to tap into more power, as he generates more power at the point of contact. As a result, he’s already hit 2 more home runs in 12 fewer games, as well as outpacing his first stint in doubles. One of the major takeaways from Hassell’s first big league stint was that he needed to produce more power output if he wanted to be more than just a 4th outfielder, as he posted only a .269 SLG in the 21 games he played, and so far, upon his demotion, he’s shown there is more to come.

The second thing Hassell’s revamped swing is doing is keeping him more patient at the plate. This could also be due to a changed approach by Hassell himself, looking to do damage and drive pitches with his leg kick rather than put bat-on-ball like his toe tap helped him do. Either way, it’s paying major dividends for Hassell’s plate approach, as his K% has dipped from 20.9% to 16.3%, and his BB% has gone up big time from 7.4% to 14.1%.

We should see Robert Hassell III back in the major leagues by next week, as at least 2, and likely more, current members of the Nationals lineup will be on the move at the trade deadline. I am excited to see the improvements he will make at the plate upon his return, as now is the time to show if he has what it takes to be the 4th outfielder, or possibly even starting center fielder, of the future.