The Nationals announced that right-hander Chase Hampton has been designated for assignment, and right-hander Luis Perales was optioned to Triple-A Rochester.  The two roster moves clear the way for Connelly Early’s activation from the 60-day injured list, and Early’s impending Nats debut was covered in greater detail yesterday.

Hampton has only been in the Nationals organization for a couple of weeks, and his time with Washington may come and go without any in-game appearances at the major or minor league levels.  Hampton’s 2026 resume consists of an 8.18 ERA over 55 innings at three different levels of the Yankees’ farm system, and after New York DFA’ed Hampton earlier this month, the Nats made a waiver claim.

Considered one of the top 100 prospects in baseball prior to the 2024 season, injuries limited Hampton to just 18 2/3 minor league innings that season, and a Tommy John surgery in February 2025 shelved him for over a full year.  He returned to action last May with the Yankees’ A-level affiliate, but the results just weren’t there for Hampton in A-ball, high-A ball, or at Double-A.  The righty’s garish ERA was fueled by 13 homers allowed in his 55 innings, and he also had a 12.9% walk rate against a 21.3% strikeout rate.

Hampton has never been outrighted, so the Nationals would retain their control if he cleared waivers.  Chances are that Hampton will be let go into minor league free agency, as the 25-year-old will seek out the next chapter of his career with a new club.