Erik Arnesen promoted to Harrisburg

WOODBRIDGE, Va. - The Potomac Nationals announced today that right-hander Erik Arnesen has been promoted to Double-A Harrisburg thus becoming the first member of the P-Nats' 2009 Opening Day roster to receive a promotion up the Washington organizational ladder. This will be Arnesen's first stint above the A ball classification of Minor League Baseball in his professional career.

The 25-year-old right-hander was the winning pitcher in Potomac's deciding game of the Mills Cup Championship against Myrtle Beach last September and was the P-Nats' Opening Day starter for the 2009 season. In six starts for Manager Trent Jewett's ballclub, Arnesen went 4-1 with 2.23 ERA with 23 strikeouts compared to just seven walks in 32.1 innings pitched.

At the time of his promotion, the Princeton, New Jersey native ranked third in the Carolina League in both ERA and innings pitched while pacing the P-Nats' pitching staff with his four victories on the season. He also matched a career-high by fanning eight Winston-Salem Dash hitters in his April 21 start - a game won by Potomac 3-2.

Arnesen spent the bulk of his 2008 campaign with Low-A Hagerstown appearing in 25 games with the Suns going 6-4 with a 3.97 ERA. He pitched primarily as a reliever early in the season until converting to a starter on June 10. He was promoted to Potomac on July 28 and finished strong for the Nationals compiling a record of 4-3 with a 4.14 ERA as a starter against Carolina League competition.

A former 17th-round draft choice in 2006, Arnesen began his professional career with Short-Season Vermont the same year posting a 1-3 record with a 4.56 ERA in 12 games. The Grove City College product is now in his fourth season in the Nationals organization and owns a career 21-18 record in 75 career outings.

The promotion leaves the Potomac Nationals with 24 players on their roster, 12 pitchers and 12 active position players.

The Potomac Nationals will begin a three-game midweek homestand against the Salem Red Sox on Tuesday morning, May 12 with a Business Persons' Special beginning at 11:00 a.m. It will also be a Salute to Service Tuesday where all military, first responders and teachers can receive a free grandstand ticket from the ticket office with a valid form of identification. It's also the first Kraft Singles Tuesday where for every Tuesday home game, fans can receive a buy 1, get 1 free ticket when they present any Kraft Singles cheese wrapper to the ticket office.

Join the party all season long at Pfitzner Stadium with the Potomac Nationals! Single game tickets and mini-plans for the 2009 season are still available. For more information, call (703) 590-2311 or visit www.potomacnationals.com.