Washington Nationals Extend Player Development Contract with Potomac Nationals Through 2018 Season

Woodbridge, VA--- The Washington Nationals have announced that the organization has extended its player development contract with the Class-A Advanced Potomac Nationals of the Carolina League through the 2018 season.

The Washington Nationals and the Potomac Nationals will continue their partnership that started in the 2005 season. The most recent PDC was completed prior to the 2015 season.

The Potomac Nationals recently completed their 2016 campaign with a spot in the Carolina League Northern Division Championship Series, but fell to the Lynchburg Hillcats (Cleveland Indians) in three games. The P-Nats finished with the second best overall record in the Northern Division and wrapped up the second half with a share of the division title.

"The Potomac Nationals are unequivocally proud and privileged to remain affiliated with the Washington Nationals through the 2018 campaign. Our parent club has established a tradition of graduating top-tier talent who have spent a meaningful part of their Minor League careers in Woodbridge, Virginia, and the Potomac Baseball franchise is humbled to play a role in that player development process through the conduit of our invaluable partnership with the Washington Nationals," said Potomac Nationals General Manager of Sales, Bryan Holland.

"The reciprocity between the Washington Nationals and the Potomac Nationals is incredible and Nationals fans at Pfitzner Stadium continue to embody our franchise's excellent relationship with our Major League affiliate through their dedication to ardently supporting Washington's fleet of farmhands and coaching staff both on the diamond and out in the Northern Virginia community.

With the current partnership between Washington and Potomac now more than a decade long, many pieces of the current Washington roster have made their way through Potomac in route to the nation's capital. Since Washington made the move to The District of Columbia in 2005, 58 former Potomac Nationals have graduated to the Major Leagues. The past two Potomac teams (2015/2016) have seen five different players make their way to the Majors.

RHP Koda Glover, who started the 2016 season with the P-Nats, made his debut with Washington less than four months later. Four players who appeared for the P-Nats in 2015 have already received a call up to the Majors, as RHP Reynaldo Lopez (Washington) and RHP Lucas Giolito (Washington) each played part of the season with Potomac, while IF Wilmer Difo (Washington), and LHP Matt Purke (Chicago White Sox) each spent parts of two seasons with the P-Nats.

Located less than 30 miles from Nationals Park, G. Richard Pfitzner Stadium plays host to the P-Nats and has been a mainstay in the recovery process for many current Nationals. 1B Ryan Zimmerman, 2B Stephen Drew, RHP Matt Belisle, and LHP Sammy Solis all worked rehab assignments in the proximity of Nationals Park in 2016.

The Potomac Nationals of the Carolina League play at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge, Virginia, and are the Class-A Advanced affiliate of the Washington Nationals. The Potomac Nationals have claimed five Carolina League Championship titles (1982, 1989, 2008, 2010, and 2014) and nine CL Northern Division Championships. Sponsorship opportunities for the 2017 season and beyond are available, as well as corporate outings for the 2017 season to watch the future stars of the Washington Nationals at The Pfitz. For more information on Potomac Nationals 2017 season tickets, mini plans, group outings, and picnic packages, visit the P-Nats online at www.potomacnationals.com or call the Potomac Nationals Ticket office at 703-590-2311.

-- Potomac Nationals --