The Nationals selected the contracts of a pair of top prospects on Tuesday as protection from the 2024 Rule 5 Draft.

Outfielder Robert Hassell III (the Nats’ No. 13 prospect, per MLB Pipeline) and right-hander Andry Lara (No. 17) were added to the 40-man roster, which now stands at 38.

How is eligibility determined?
Clubs must add the following to the 40-man rosters: Players who signed at 18 years old or younger within five seasons, and players who signed at 19 years old or older within four seasons.

In the case of this year, that included international prospects or high school Draft picks signed in 2020 at 18 or younger, and college players or 19-year-old high school players selected in the 2021 Draft.

If they are not added, players become eligible to be selected by another organization in the Rule 5 Draft, which will be held this year on Dec. 11 during the Winter Meetings in Dallas.

OF Robert Hassell III
Age: 23
Drafted: No. 8 overall in 2020 by the Padres out of Independence H.S. (Thompson's Station, Tenn.)

Hassell was acquired by the Nationals in the 2022 Juan Soto blockbuster with the Padres, and he was one of the top prospects who participated in Major League camp this past season.

After being hampered by injuries early in his pro career, Hassell totaled 85 games between Single-A Wilmington, Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Rochester in 2024, batting .241 with nine doubles, two triples, five homers, 44 runs, 28 RBIs, 35 walks and 15 stolen bases. He was named Eastern League Player of the Week on May 6.

Hassell was also a key contributor on the Arizona Fall League-champion Salt River Rafters. In 22 AFL games, he hit .281 with seven doubles, one triple, four home runs, 17 runs scored, 19 RBIs, eight walks and five stolen bases. He earned an AFL All-Star selection and ranked third overall in extra-base hits (12).

RHP Andry Lara
Age: 21
Signed: 2019 international signing class from Venezuela

Lara went 11-11 with a 3.34 ERA in 25 starts between High-A Wilmington and Double-A Harrisburg last season. He led the Nationals’ Minor League system in wins and WHIP (1.16) while ranking second in innings pitched (134 2/3) and opponents’ batting average (.227), and third in strikeouts (132).

Lara was promoted to the Senators on May 14 after recording a 2.35 ERA in six starts with the Blue Rocks to begin the season.

As MLB Pipeline wrote of Lara’s pitching repertoire: “He averaged 95.5 mph in a short Spring Breakout stint … and he's been 92-94 at Double-A Harrisburg following an in-season promotion. Lara’s mid-80s slider has helped drive his return to K form in ’24. The pitch stands out more for its vertical drop than its sweep, and Lara can consistently wear out the gloveside corner to get whiffs below opposing bats. His upper-80s changeup doesn’t show a ton of separation from the fastball but shows enough running armside action to make it a possible average offering.”

Who was not protected from the Rule 5 Draft?
Infielder Kevin Made (No. 25) was the only Top 30 prospect not added to the 40-man roster. Other notable prospects not protected are left-handers Andrew Alvarez and Matt Cronin, right-handers Daison Acosta and Chase Solesky, catchers Brady Lindsly and Onix Vega, infielders Jackson Cluff and Jack Dunn, and outfielders Jeremy De La Rosa and Roismar Quintana.

Who was protected last year?
In the fall of 2023, the Nationals added left-handers DJ Herz and Mitchell Parker and right-handers Zach Brzykcy and Cole Henry to the 40-man roster. Herz and Parker became members of the ‘24 rotation, and Brzykcy debuted in September after recovering from Tommy John surgery.