Daylen Lyle has been solid every step of the way since being drafted out of high school in the second round of the 2021 draft. However, he has never had a true breakout season that would propel him up the Nationals’ prospect rankings. He’s held his serve so far and hasn’t done anything to hurt his stock, but he hasn’t made any big leaps either. Will 2025 be the year Lyle finally breaks down that door and forces his way onto the Nationals roster?
After a shaky start to his professional career that included rookie ball troubles and Tommy John surgery in 2022, Lyle has bounced around the minor leagues the past two seasons. When Lyle returned in 2023, he performed well. He displayed an above-average hitting tool and advanced approach, posting an .807 OPS between the two levels.
Lyle struggled a bit once he reached High-A, but that can be forgiven considering Wilmington’s extremely pitcher-friendly environment. In 2024, after recovering from a gruesome injury sustained during spring training, he returned to Wilmington, where he performed well. After 57 games, he was promoted to Double-A.
At Harrisburg, Lyle posted a .255 average and .343 OBP, but struggled to make an impact on the ball. His slugging percentage of .371 shows his lack of power. Lyle’s lack of power beyond his limits is what keeps him from breaking into the top 100. In 2024, he hit only 6 home runs in 485 at-bats.
Lyle is a good athlete, but he’s more of a corner outfielder than a true center fielder. This places a greater burden on the bat, making the lack of power even more problematic. Lyle is not Jacob Young-level home run shy and has the potential to be a 15-20 home run guy if everything goes well. But that’s what he needs to do to take his game to the next level. It has an advanced feel at impact, throw the ball fairly high in the airSo the hope is that he can convert that into more home runs.
That’s the only way he can become a breakout star. He has many other tools, but even average power would greatly enhance his profile. The Nationals have a lot of young outfielders, so finding a spot for Lyle could be difficult. He is a player that could be trade bait if Mike Rizzo wants to look to upgrade his roster through the trade market.
Between James Wood, Dylan Cruz, Jacob Young, Robert Hassell, and Lyle, the Nationals organization has a surplus of outfielders. The first two are untouchables, but I wouldn’t be surprised if one of Young, Hassell, or Lyle could end up on the trade block, especially if the Nats take Jace Laviolette with the No. 1 overall pick. .
Lyle is a solid player with a lot of average to above average tools overall, but could be a bit of a tweener if his power doesn’t develop. He doesn’t have enough defensive ability to be a center fielder, but he’s not good enough as a hitter to be an impact corner outfielder. But if he taps into some leverage, his stock will skyrocket.