WASHINGTON – Looking for an offensive spark, the Nationals called up third baseman Brady House, the organization’s No. 3 prospect and MLB Pipeline’s No. 91 overall, before Monday night's game against the Rockies at Nationals Park. House started at third and batted sixth in his Major League debut.
"[You] try to treat it like any other game,” House said Monday afternoon at his locker. “I know it’s the first one, but you’ve got to control those emotions and just go out there and play. That’s what got me here, is just going out there and playing.”
House, 22, has a .304/.353/.519 slash line with 13 home runs in 65 games this year for 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.
“All the feedback we got, all the games we’ve been watching, he’s playing well,” said manager Dave Martinez. “He’s playing really good defense, he’s hitting the ball really well. We figured now was the time to bring him up here and get him used to playing up here in the Major Leagues, so we’re really excited about that.”
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 joins 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 call up No. 3 prospect House
• What to expect from House in MLB
• Highlights | Rankings: Top 100 | 3B | WSH
“I’m not trying to hit a home run. It’s almost like accidental. If it goes out, it goes out,” House said, adding, “I’m just hoping that I can come here and I can help the team in any way, whether it’s defense or hitting, driving runners in … whatever I can do.”
In addition to House, the Nationals called 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, and designated infielder Juan Yepez for assignment. 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.
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 beginning a rehab assignment this week with Double-A Harrisburg. Tena and Amed Rosario split time at third base in DeJong’s absence.