When opposing teams are planning for the Washington Nationals, Daylen Lile should be the name they circle on the lineup card. He is the team’s best hitter and his momentum from last season has translated through the first five games. While James Wood might be a more dangerous hitter, Lile is a better one.
His feel for hitting is just so good. Lile makes a ton of contact and does so at optimal angles. He is not one of those guys who just hits a ton of balls on the ground. Lile is a line drive hitter whose angles allow him to hit it where the fielders aren’t. His knock against Andrew Painter last night is a perfect example of that.
Lile did not hit this ball super hard, but it was struck at an optimal 22 degree launch angle. That is why that ball had a .690 expected batting average and fell in front of Adolis Garcia. While it has mostly been singles so far this season, Lile also has enough power to keep pitchers honest. Even last night, he just missed a homer on a foul ball.
Late last season, I wrote a similar story about how Lile was the best hitter on the team. Even though I wrote that, deep down I was not totally sure if I believed that. Now I am 100% sure. We have seen enough of him to know that Daylen Lile is the real deal.
After last night, Lile has a career .306 average and .855 OPS. That is after a slow start to his career as well. Since the All-Star break, he has established himself as one of the best pure hitters in baseball. It is kind of crazy the two different directions that he and James Wood have gone in since the Midsummer Classic.
Honestly, it might be time for me to get a Daylen Lile jersey. The only thing holding me back is that when I got my Wood jersey, he started struggling. However, I do not think Lile is prone to the same kinds of slumps we have seen Wood fall into. His swing is so simple and low maintenance. He just feels like a guy who can roll out of bed and hit.
Among Nats of the past, his hitting style is reminiscent of the likes of Daniel Murphy and Howie Kendrick. Like those guys, Lile is always ready to hit and has elite contact skills. While none of those guys walk a ton, they do not chase a ton either.
One guy I said Lile reminded me of in the offseason is Michael Brantley, and it is a comparison I continue to enjoy. Like Lile, Brantley was a contact first corner outfielder who had enough power to be a strong all around hitter. Brantley posted 34 WAR and made five All-Star teams despite having tough injury luck for much of his career. I think Lile has that kind of ceiling as a hitter.
Lile is a better athlete and base runner than Brantley was, but his defense still needs work. When you see Lile run, you think he should be a good defensive outfielder, but his instincts still need work. However, he still has plenty of time to get better out there at just 23 years old.
He had a rough time navigating the wind in Chicago, but he’s looked solid the last couple games in the outfield. Lile made one throw in the Phillies series that really caught me off guard. He threw an absolute bullet to almost get a guy at second. Lile is not known for his arm strength, especially after undergoing Tommy John Surgery a few years ago. If his arm is actually stronger, that would be helpful for him in the outfield.
Lile made it known he wanted to improve his defense this offseason. He was posting plenty of videos of him in the lab. This new regime could also help him out defensively. While the Nats have made some sloppy errors in the early going, I have seen defensive improvements from some players, specifically CJ Abrams.
Hopefully Lile can become an average defender. If he can do that, he will be an All-Star level guy. I have so much belief in his hitting ability and he proves me right over and over. That swing is just so pristine and he always has a plan at the plate.
If the Nats wanted to give one of their young players an extension, I think Lile is their man. He is not represented by Scott Boras and his bat gives him a high floor. Daylen Lile should be a part of the Nationals outfield for many years to come and that fires me up.