Nats Journal

After meteoric rise, Lile tries to stay grounded

Daylen Lile's breakthrough rookie season made the young outfielder an overnight celebrity back home and a big part of the Nats' 2026 plans

Mark Zuckerman's avatar
Mark Zuckerman
Feb 18, 2026
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Photo by Saúl Martinez / NATS JOURNAL

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Upon arriving back home in Louisville at season’s end, Daylen Lile looked forward to processing everything that happened to him in 2025 and then settling back into his nice, quiet offseason life.

His parents had a hunch that wouldn’t be so simple. Things are going to change, they told their the…

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