The Washington Nationals have announced the club has extended its player development contract with the Class-A Advanced Potomac Nationals of the Carolina League through the 2016 season.
Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager, Mike Rizzo, Nationals Vice President of Player Personnel, Bob Boone, Assistant General Manager and Vice President of Player Development, Doug Harris, and Director of Player Development, Mark Scialabba made the joint announcement.
The Washington Nationals have maintained a working PDC agreement with the Potomac Nationals since the 2005 season. The most recent two-year contract was completed prior to the 2013 campaign.
“We are very pleased to extend out working relationship with the Potomac Nationals for another two years,” said Rizzo.
“What we value in Potomac goes well beyond the obvious proximity and mutual fans that our clubs share. Josh Olerud and his staff have done a tremendous job over the past few years enhancing the Carolina League experience for our players and staff.”
Last week, the Potomac Nationals confirmed the club set a new franchise single-season attendance record during the 2014 Carolina League regular season as 243,559 fans enjoyed P-Nats Baseball at G. Richard Pfitzner Stadium.
“Being a part of the Washington Nationals’ farm system from their inception has been a special partnership for the Potomac Nationals. We are privileged to maintain our relationship with Washington within this talent-rich chain that continues to produce quality Major League players. We could not be more pleased as an organization to extend this invaluable affiliation for another two years,” said Potomac Nationals Vice President and General Manager, Josh Olerud.
The Potomac Nationals owned the second-best overall record (78-58) in the Carolina League during the 2014 regular campaign while capturing both a First-Half and Second-Half Northern Division Championship en route to a ’14 Northern Division Pennant following their triumph over the Lynchburg Hillcats (Atlanta Braves) in the Northern Division Championship Series.
As a franchise, the Potomac Nationals have earned four consecutive half-season division titles and back-to-back division pennants.
Currently, the P-Nats are competing against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Texas Rangers) in the Mills Cup Championship Series in pursuit of a fifth Carolina League Championship in team history.
Since the Washington Nationals moved to our nation’s capital in 2005, 51 former Potomac Nationals have graduated to the Major Leagues including 2013 P-Nats standouts, RHP Taylor Hill (Washington), RHP Taylor Jordan (Washington), OF Michael Taylor (Washington), OF Billy Burns (Oakland), C Adrian Nieto(Chicago-AL), and LHP Robbie Ray (Detroit) in addition to current Nationals centerpieces, SS Ian Desmond,LHP Ross Detwiler, 2B Danny Espinosa, IF Anthony Rendon, RHP Drew Storen, and RHP Jordan Zimmermann.
Pfitzner Stadium is located less than 30 miles from Nationals Park making travel convenient from the parent club to its Class-A Advanced affiliate in Woodbridge, VA.
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Chris Graham
