After a disappointing 2025 season and a new regime coming in, most of the Nationals roster has a lot to prove. However, there are some players that are under more pressure than others. Players like CJ Abrams and James Wood had disappointing second halves, but they have still proven themselves. We are going to talk about three players who need to show proof of concept at the MLB level.
These three players are Dylan Crews, Brady House and Robert Hassell III. All of these guys are former top prospects
and still quite young. However, they need to show more in 2026 to cement themselves as long term pieces for the Nats. If they do not prove themselves this year, it could be time for some uncomfortable conversations.
In my opinion, Dylan Crews is under the most pressure of anyone on the roster, and it is not particularly close. When Crews was picked second overall in 2023, he was supposed to be the face of the next era of Nationals baseball. Coming out of LSU, Crews was seen as one of the safest prospects in recent memory. His well rounded skillset did not appear to have many holes in it.
However, it has not been smooth sailing for the young outfielder. In 116 career MLB games, Crews is hitting just .211 with a .634 OPS. Even in the minors, Crews never dominated like he did in college. In 575 MILB at bats, Crews has an .800 OPS. That is not bad, but for a guy of his pedigree you would like to see him dominate.
Crews has still shown flashes of his high potential. At his best, Crews can be a spark plug who can do a bit of everything. He can be a fearless player who can turn singles into doubles and make some super fun plays. Crews also has clear power upside, with good bat speed and batted ball data.
He is going to need to put it all together in 2026 though. The Nats have a lot of young outfielders in the organization. If Crews continues to struggle, his playing time might be taken. As a top prospect, Crews will get the benefit of the doubt for a while, but that grace does not last forever. Entering his age 24 season, Crews needs to show he can be a productive big leaguer before it is too late.
At just 22 years old, Brady House still has time on his side. However, his first big league stint was a bit concerning. We knew House had some rawness to his offensive game, but he struggled even more than anticipated. He hit just .234 with a .574 OPS in 73 games. The lack of plate discipline was predictable, but his lack of power was more unexpected.
In 261 at bats, House hit just four home runs. That is not ideal for a player known for his power. Due to his aggressive approach, he is unlikely to ever post great OBP numbers. He also has some swing and miss in his game, striking out 28.5% of the time. With that in mind, House is going to have to hit for power, or else his offensive game cannot function.
He has the raw power and hit 13 homers in 65 AAA games, so we know it is in there. House needs to show that power, or he will lose his grasp on the third base position. On the positive side of things, House is a very good defender at third base. He posted two outs above average last year and looked very comfortable at the hot corner.
However, you still need to have an offensive game to be a big league third baseman. House is still very young and has the tools. Historically, House has struggled when he reaches a new level before figuring it out in his second attempt. We saw that in Triple-A, where he struggled in 2024 before solving the level in 2025. Hopefully we can see that same progression in the MLB.
While Brady House and Dylan Crews are fighting to hold on to starting positions, Robert Hassell III is looking to hold onto a big league roster spot. Hassell, who was a key piece in the Juan Soto trade, has had an up and down journey through the minor leagues.
Hassell was a top 10 pick back in 2020. He was very good in the lower levels of the minors and established himself as a top 50 prospect. However, the young outfielder struggled with injuries and inconsistencies once he arrived in the Nats organization. He battled with a hamate injury which really impacted his production. Hassell posted OPS numbers below .650 in the minors in 2023 and 2024.
However, he turned a corner in AAA in 2025. While playing in the minor leagues, Hassell hit .310 with an .839 OPS. He was showing more power than he had in a while and looked more like the guy he was when he was in the Padres system.
That production did not translate to the MLB level though. Hassell hit just .223 with a .572 OPS in 70 games. He was known for his pure hitting ability in the minors, but Hassell struck out over 30% of the time at the big league level. That is a massive red flag for a player of his profile.
There were some stretches where Hassell showed flashes. He had a hot run right after being recalled from AAA for his second stint. It was clear he made some adjustments. However, those hot runs never lasted for long. With the Nats crowded outfield room, Hassell will have to perform if he wants to stay in the MLB.
He has lost a lot of the luster he had when he arrived in the Soto trade. There is no guarantee that he even makes the roster coming out of spring training. At 24 years old, now is the time for Hassell to show he is a big leaguer.
He will have to find some of that hitting ability he was known for. While Hassell is a solid defender and athlete, he is not elite in that regard either. The clock is ticking for Bobby Barrels. We have to see progress in 2026, or he will become an afterthought.
One of the exciting things about this 2026 team is that so many guys have a ton to prove. We are going to find out a lot about these guys. Paul Toboni seems to be using 2026 to evaluate what he has in house. Surely, he will be taking a close look at these three players. If they do not perform, Dylan Crews, Brady House and Robert Hassell III will be on the hot seat.
