Daylen Lile

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Washington Nationals #11 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Lile signed an over-slot $1.75 million bonus in the second round of the 2021 draft. His pro debut at the Florida Complex League left much to be desired and he missed the 2022 season recovering from Tommy John surgery. Lile redeemed himself in 2023, slashing .291/.381/.510 at Low-A Fredericksburg to earn a promotion to High-A Wilmington in mid July. He continued to impress in his first healthy season.
  
  Scouting Report: Known as a pure hitter in high school, Lile lived up to that billing in 2023. He has a clean, simple swing and an innate ability to adjust pitch-to-pitch during an at-bat. Lile’s adjustability allows him to get to pitches in all four quadrants of the strike zone. The question is whether he’ll make enough impact when he connects. He posted a below-average .123 isolated slugging percentage in 40 games at High-A, and opposing scouts wonder if he’ll ever develop more than below-average game power. He’s a plus runner who split time between center and left field in Wilmington, but his defensive skills and arm may be best suited for left field, which would put even more pressure on his power to develop.
  
  The Future: Lile played in 106 games in 2023, and the Nationals hope increased durability continues in 2024. He could elevate his stock quickly if he starts to tap into more power.
  
  Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 45 | Run: 50 | Field: 50 | Arm: 45
• 
  Ranked Washington Nationals #27 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/Extreme
  
  Track Record: The Nationals signed Lile in the second round of the 2021 draft for an over-slot $1.75 million bonus. After a lackluster performance at the Florida Complex League in his pro debut, Lile didn't get a chance at an encore because he had Tommy John surgery in March and missed the entire 2022 season.
  
  Scouting Report: Lile had a strong reputation as an advanced pure hitter in high school, with a long track record of performance. That has not translated yet in the 19 games he has played professionally. He has a quick, easy swing that allows him to make consistent contact and a mature approach that led to a walk rate near 19% in the FCL in 2021. Lile was never projected to generate a ton of power, but there is hope he can reach an average level down the line. His defense is average at best, with fring-average arm strength that makes him fit best in left field.
  
  The Future: Lile is expected to be full-go for the 2023 season and will still be in his age-20 season. Once he returns, the Nationals will have a better idea of where his skill level is and whether his bat will be enough to allow him to profile as a corner outfielder.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 55. Power: 45. Speed: 50. Fielding: 50. Arm: 45.
• 
  Ranked Washington Nationals #17 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Few high school hitters in the 2021 draft class had a long-term track record of hitting at a high level like Lile’s. That earned him a place on the high school All-America team in 2021 and a second-round selection by the Nationals, who were excited to add his polished bat to the system. He signed for $1.75 million, or $169,800 over the pick value. He spent his first season in the Florida Complex League, where he was primarily limited to DH duty due to an arm injury.
  
  Scouting Report: Lile has a quiet setup at the plate with very little pre-pitch movement. His swing is easy and repeatable, and he leans on his hands to spray line drives to all fields. With a relatively light frame at present, some evaluators are dubious of his future power projection, but internally, there is hope power will come along later. Some evaluators see Lile as a potential center fielder down the line, but more likely, he ends up in left field thanks to fringy arm strength and average speed.
  
  The Future: Because he doesn’t project to add much value defensively and power may never be part of his game, Lile is going to have to hit, hit and hit some more, as he did all throughout his prep days, in order to move up the ladder.
  

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #61 prospect in 2021 draft
  Lile has the exact sort of high school profile that terrifies many scouts, because you have to be all-in on his bat to feel comfortable about taking him. It’s a credit to just how good Lile is in the batter’s box that the industry views him as a potential top-two round sort of player. The 6-foot, 190-pound Louisville commit has always been a consistent performer on some of the better travel teams in the country, using a simple, direct bat path from the left side. He has very quiet motions at the plate, with little to no pre-pitch movement and an easy, repeatable load and bat path that lets his hands do the work. He has a solid approach, with an ability to use the entire field, though scouts have said his swing is more built for hard line drives than big-time power potential. Without a ton of strength, and with a frame that doesn’t project to add a significant amount more, that could be difficult for his profile if he winds up in left field. There are some scouts who saw him this spring and reportedly think he can be a big league center fielder, but the general consensus puts him in left field, where his fringy arm strength and average running ability will fit best. Lile’s profile has been one that teams prefer to send to college where he will have a chance to prove his hitting ability against ACC competition, but for teams convinced by his hit tool, he could be a Day One pick.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/Extreme
  
  Track Record: The Nationals signed Lile in the second round of the 2021 draft for an over-slot $1.75 million bonus. After a lackluster performance at the Florida Complex League in his pro debut, Lile didn't get a chance at an encore because he had Tommy John surgery in March and missed the entire 2022 season.
  
  Scouting Report: Lile had a strong reputation as an advanced pure hitter in high school, with a long track record of performance. That has not translated yet in the 19 games he has played professionally. He has a quick, easy swing that allows him to make consistent contact and a mature approach that led to a walk rate near 19% in the FCL in 2021. Lile was never projected to generate a ton of power, but there is hope he can reach an average level down the line. His defense is average at best, with fring-average arm strength that makes him fit best in left field.
  
  The Future: Lile is expected to be full-go for the 2023 season and will still be in his age-20 season. Once he returns, the Nationals will have a better idea of where his skill level is and whether his bat will be enough to allow him to profile as a corner outfielder.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 55. Power: 45. Speed: 50. Fielding: 50. Arm: 45.
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/Extreme
  
  Track Record: The Nationals signed Lile in the second round of the 2021 draft for an over-slot $1.75 million bonus. After a lackluster performance at the Florida Complex League in his pro debut, Lile didn't get a chance at an encore because he had Tommy John surgery in March and missed the entire 2022 season.
  
  Scouting Report: Lile had a strong reputation as an advanced pure hitter in high school, with a long track record of performance. That has not translated yet in the 19 games he has played professionally. He has a quick, easy swing that allows him to make consistent contact and a mature approach that led to a walk rate near 19% in the FCL in 2021. Lile was never projected to generate a ton of power, but there is hope he can reach an average level down the line. His defense is average at best, with fring-average arm strength that makes him fit best in left field.
  
  The Future: Lile is expected to be full-go for the 2023 season and will still be in his age-20 season. Once he returns, the Nationals will have a better idea of where his skill level is and whether his bat will be enough to allow him to profile as a corner outfielder.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 55. Power: 45. Speed: 50. Fielding: 50. Arm: 45.
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 40/High
  
  Track Record: Few high school hitters in the 2021 draft class had a long-term track record of hitting at a high level like Lile&#39s. That earned him a place on the high school All-America team in 2021 and a second-round selection by the Nationals, who were excited to add his polished bat to the system. He signed for $1.75 million, or $169,800 over the pick value. He spent his first season in the Florida Complex League, where he was primarily limited to DH duty due to an arm injury.
  
  Scouting Report: Lile has a quiet setup at the plate with very little pre-pitch movement. His swing is easy and repeatable, and he leans on his hands to spray line drives to all fields. With a relatively light frame at present, some evaluators are dubious of his future power projection, but internally, there is hope power will come along later. Some evaluators see Lile as a potential center fielder down the line, but more likely, he ends up in left field thanks to fringy arm strength and average speed.
  
  The Future: Because he doesn&#39t project to add much value defensively and power may never be part of his game, Lile is going to have to hit, hit and hit some more, as he did all throughout his prep days, in order to move up the ladder.5
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Few high school hitters in the 2021 draft class had a long-term track record of hitting at a high level like Lile’s. That earned him a place on the high school All-America team in 2021 and a second-round selection by the Nationals, who were excited to add his polished bat to the system. He signed for $1.75 million, or $169,800 over the pick value. He spent his first season in the Florida Complex League, where he was primarily limited to DH duty due to an arm injury.
  
  Scouting Report: Lile has a quiet setup at the plate with very little pre-pitch movement. His swing is easy and repeatable, and he leans on his hands to spray line drives to all fields. With a relatively light frame at present, some evaluators are dubious of his future power projection, but internally, there is hope power will come along later. Some evaluators see Lile as a potential center fielder down the line, but more likely, he ends up in left field thanks to fringy arm strength and average speed.
  
  The Future: Because he doesn’t project to add much value defensively and power may never be part of his game, Lile is going to have to hit, hit and hit some more, as he did all throughout his prep days, in order to move up the ladder.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Lile has the exact sort of high school profile that terrifies many scouts, because you have to be all-in on his bat to feel comfortable about taking him. It's a credit to just how good Lile is in the batter's box that the industry views him as a potential top-two round sort of player. The 6-foot, 190-pound Louisville commit has always been a consistent performer on some of the better travel teams in the country, using a simple, direct bat path from the left side. He has very quiet motions at the plate, with little to no pre-pitch movement and an easy, repeatable load and bat path that lets his hands do the work. He has a solid approach, with an ability to use the entire field, though scouts have said his swing is more built for hard line drives than big-time power potential. Without a ton of strength, and with a frame that doesn't project to add a significant amount more, that could be difficult for his profile if he winds up in left field. There are some scouts who saw him this spring and reportedly think he can be a big league center fielder, but the general consensus puts him in left field, where his fringy arm strength and average running ability will fit best. Lile's profile has been one that teams prefer to send to college where he will have a chance to prove his hitting ability against ACC competition, but the Nationals were convinced by the hit tool.