Nationals designate Chase Hampton for assignment after brief waiver claim

The Washington Nationals announced the designation of right-hander Chase Hampton for assignment, alongside the option of right-hander Luis Perales to Triple-A Rochester — two moves that together open a 40-man roster spot for the activation of Connelly Early from the 60-day injured list, per Mark Polishuk of MLB Trade Rumors.

What happened

Hampton's time in the Nationals organization lasted only a couple of weeks, per the report, and may conclude without a single appearance at any level. Washington had claimed him off waivers after the Yankees designated him for assignment earlier this month. Now the Nationals have moved him along in turn.

Perales, meanwhile, heads back to Rochester as the organizational shuffle required to bring Early to the big-league roster takes shape. Per earlier Posterior Wire coverage, Early is set to start Saturday against the Mets at Nationals Park — his debut in a Nationals uniform.

Why it matters

Hampton's arc here is less about Washington's plans and more about what the waiver process can look like in September: a club claims a name, holds him briefly, and then moves on. The Nationals retain their control over Hampton if he clears waivers, given that he has never been outrighted, per the report. The more likely outcome, per Polishuk, is that Hampton passes through waivers and enters minor-league free agency, looking for a fresh start elsewhere.

The more operationally significant piece of this transaction is Early. His activation completes a roster maneuver that required both a designation and an option to execute — standard September arithmetic, but the destination matters. Early is listed as the probable starter for Saturday's home game against the Mets, opposite New York's Jonah Tong.

The numbers

Hampton's 2026 line across three levels of the Yankees' farm system tells a difficult story: an 8.18 ERA over 55 innings, 13 home runs allowed, a 12.9% walk rate, and a 21.3% strikeout rate, per the report. The strikeout rate isn't alarming in isolation, but paired with the walk and home-run numbers, the profile didn't hold at A-ball, high-A, or Double-A.

Context matters here. Hampton was considered one of the top 100 prospects in baseball heading into the 2024 season, per the report. Injuries held him to just 18 2/3 minor-league innings that year, and a Tommy John surgery in February 2025 kept him off the mound for more than a full year. He returned last May with the Yankees' A-level affiliate — and the 2026 results, however discouraging, represent his first extended action since that procedure.

Where the club stands

Washington enters Saturday at 76-84 (.475), sitting fourth in the NL East, 17 games back in the division, and eliminated from both the division race and the Wild Card race. The club has won three straight. Sunday's home game against the Mets is lined up as DJ Herz versus Sean Manaea — Herz himself returned to the rotation approximately 17 months after his own Tommy John surgery, per earlier Posterior Wire coverage.

What we don't know yet

Whether Hampton clears waivers is unresolved. The report notes the Nationals would retain control if he does, but also characterizes minor-league free agency as the probable outcome. No timetable or transaction detail beyond the designation has been reported.

Early's debut has been covered in greater detail separately, per Polishuk's note, and the full shape of his role beyond Saturday's start remains to be seen.

What to watch

The immediate question is how Early performs in his Nationals debut Saturday. Beyond that, Hampton's waiver status will determine whether Washington retains any future claim on him or whether he moves on entirely. For a pitcher with Hampton's prospect pedigree and injury history, the next organization he lands with — and on what terms — will be worth tracking as the offseason approaches.