WASHINGTON – Looking for an offensive spark, the Nationals are calling up third baseman Brady House, the organization’s No. 3 prospect and MLB Pipeline’s No. 91 overall, a source told MLB.com’s Jessica Camerato on Sunday. The club has not yet confirmed the promotion.
House, 22, has a .304/.353/.519 slash line with 13 home runs in 65 games this year for Triple-A Rochester. With a multihit game on Sunday, House pushed his hitting streak to 15 straight games. MLB Pipeline ranks his scouting grades as hit: 45, power: 60, run: 50, arm: 60, field: 55, overall: 55.
The Nationals originally selected House with their first-round pick -- 11th overall -- in the 2021 Draft out of Winder-Barrow High School in Georgia.
House will join an emerging nucleus of young talent in Washington’s lineup, which could certainly use a boost: The Nationals have scored just 31 runs in the month of June, the fewest of any team in the Majors. That’s in part triggered by a season-worst eight-game losing streak, dipping their record to 11 games below the .500 mark.
More on Brady House:
• Nationals calling up No. 3 prospect House (source)
• What to expect from House in MLB
• Highlights | Rankings: Top 100 | 3B | WSH
In addition to House, the Nationals are calling outfielder Daylen Lile (No. 9 prospect) back up from Triple-A. Lile made his Major League debut on May 23 and had 10 starts in right field. He recorded three doubles, one triple and two RBIs in his first stint in the big leagues.
In corresponding moves, the Nats optioned outfielder Robert Hassell III (No. 11 prospect) and infielder José Tena to Rochester on Sunday. Tena, who made the Opening Day roster, hit .248 in 44 games. Hassell debuted on May 22, and has been in the starting lineup consistently, but his batting average dropped to .130 over the last seven games. The Nationals also will have to clear one spot on the 40-man roster.
Entering play on Sunday, Washington’s third basemen had combined for a .682 OPS. Paul DeJong, the Opening Day starter at the hot corner, has been out since mid-April after being hit in the face by a fastball. He is expected to begin a rehab assignment this week. Tena and Amed Rosario split time at third base in DeJong’s absence.