Robert Hassell (baseball)

Robert Harris Hassell III (born August 15, 2001) is an American baseball outfielder in the San Diego Padres organization. He was selected eighth overall by the Padres in the 2020 MLB draft.
Amateur career.
Hassell lives in Franklin, Tennessee and attended Independence High School, where he was both an outfielder and a starting pitcher on the baseball team. recognized as a top collegiate prospect entering high school, Hassell committed to play college baseball at Tennessee in October of his freshman year. In his freshman season he hit .407 with 48 hits, 15 doubles, 2 home runs and 29 RBIs with 10 stolen bases and 24 runs scored and was named the Williamson County Baseball Player of the Year. following the season he flipped his commitment to Vanderbilt Hassell was named the Williamson County Baseball Player of the Year again as well as first team all-State by "USA Today" and an Underclass All-American by MaxPreps as a sophomore after batting .416 with nine doubles, six home runs and 52 RBIs. As a junior, Hassell was named the Tennessee Gatorade Player of the Year after batting .423 with 14 home runs, eight doubles, 36 RBIs and 22 stolen bases while also posting a 5-2 record with a 1.07 ERA and 113 strikeouts to 21 walks in 59 innings pitched. After the season Hassell was named to the roster for the United States national baseball team to compete in the 2019 World Baseball Softball Confederation U-18 Baseball World Cup and won the Richard W. "Dick" Case Award as the team's most valuable player after leading the team in 10 different offensive categories. Hassell was named the WBSC International Player of the Year in December 2019. Hassell entered his senior season as one of the best high school prospects for the 2020 Major League Baseball draft and was named a preseason All-American by "Baseball America".
Professional career.
Hassell was selected eighth overall in the 2020 Major League Baseball draft by the San Diego Padres. Hassell signed with the Padres on June 23, 2020 for a $4.3 million bonus. After signing, he was assigned to the Padres alternate training site as the minor league season was canceled due to Covid-19.
Hassell was named to the Padres' 2021 Spring Training roster as a non-roster invitee.