Fredericksburg Nationals
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox Minor League Baseball
|name = Fredericksburg Nationals
|founded = 1984
| misc = Based in Fredericksburg, Virginia, since 2020
|logo = FredNats.png
|uniformlogo = FredNats cap.PNG
|class level = Single-A (2021–present)
|past class level = Class A-Advanced (2020)
|current league = Carolina League (1984–present)
|conference =
|division = North Division
|past league =
|majorleague = Washington Nationals (2005–present)
|pastmajorleague = {{Plainlist|*Cincinnati Reds (2003–2004)
- St. Louis Cardinals (1997–2002)
- Chicago White Sox (1994–1996)
- New York Yankees (1987–1993)
- Pittsburgh Pirates (1984–1986)
}}
|classnum =
|classchamps =
|leaguenum = 5
|leaguechamps ={{hlist|1989|2008|2010|2014|2024}}
|divnum = 10
|divisionchamps = {{hlist|1989|1991|1995|2004|2008|2010|2013|2014|2018|2024}}
|firsthalfnum =
|firsthalfchamps =
|secondhalfnum = 2
|secondhalfchamps = {{hlist|2022|2024}}
|wildcardnum =
|wildcardberths =
|nickname = FredNats
|pastnames = {{Plainlist|
- Potomac Nationals (2005–2019)
- Potomac Cannons (1999–2004)
- Prince William Cannons (1989–1998)
- Prince William Yankees (1987–1988)
- Prince William Pirates (1984–1986)
}}
|colors = Red, white, blue
{{colorbox|#ba122b}} {{colorbox|#FFFFFF}} {{colorbox|#14225A}}
|ballpark = Virginia Credit Union Stadium
|pastparks = Northwest Federal Field at Pfitzner Stadium (1984–2019)
|owner = Art Silber{{cite web |title=Front Office |url=https://www.milb.com/fredericksburg/team/front-office |website=MiLB.com |publisher=Fredericksburg Nationals |access-date=April 20, 2020 |language=en}}
|president = Lani Silber Weiss
|manager = Jake Lowery{{cite web |url=https://www.milb.com/fredericksburg/team/field-staff |title=Field Staff |website=milb.com |access-date=December 6, 2022}}
|media =
|website = {{URL|https://www.milb.com/fredericksburg|milb.com/fredericksburg}}
}}
The Fredericksburg Nationals are a Minor League Baseball team that is the Single-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals. They are located in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and play their home games at Virginia Credit Union Stadium, with a capacity of 5,000 people.
History
In June 2018, Potomac Nationals owner Art Silber announced that he had signed a letter of intent to build a new stadium in Fredericksburg, Virginia, that would open in April 2020.{{Cite news|url=http://www.insidenova.com/news/business/prince_william/potomac-nationals-announce-plans-for-fredericksburg-stadium/article_46e3e774-79ac-11e8-9de2-e71df0d303fb.html|title=Potomac Nationals announce plans for Fredericksburg stadium|first=Greg|last=Hambrick|work=InsideNoVa.com|access-date=June 27, 2018|date=June 26, 2018|language=en}} The 5,000-seat multi-purpose stadium, as then planned, would include a 300-seat club facility and 13 suites.{{cite news |title=P-Nats Announce First Fredericksburg Ballpark Founding Partnership |url=https://ballparkdigest.com/2018/07/09/p-nats-announce-first-fredericksburg-ballpark-founding-partnership/ |access-date=July 10, 2018 |work=Ballpark Digest |date=July 9, 2018}} In November 2018, the Fredericksburg city council unanimously gave final approval for the Silber family to finance, build, and maintain the $35 million stadium with the city as an "anchor tenant" making an annual payment to the club of $1.05 million for 30 years.{{cite news |last1=Jett |first1=Cathy |title=Fredericksburg finalizes $35 million stadium deal with Potomac Nationals' owners |url=https://www.fredericksburg.com/news/local/fredericksburg/fredericksburg-finalizes-million-stadium-deal-with-potomac-nationals-owners/article_93afd48e-b927-5eb1-8a81-fc01a8108c1c.html |access-date=January 31, 2019 |work=The Free Lance–Star |date=November 13, 2018 |language=en}}
A groundbreaking ceremony was held on February 24, 2019,{{cite news |last1=Spedden |first1=Zach |title=New Fredericksburg Ballpark Breaks Ground |url=https://ballparkdigest.com/2019/02/26/new-fredericksburg-ballpark-breaks-ground/ |access-date=May 20, 2019 |work=Ballpark Digest |publisher=August Publications |date=February 26, 2019}} but construction work did not begin until July{{cite news |title=Fredericksburg Ballpark Site Work to Start Next Month |url=https://ballparkdigest.com/2019/06/25/fredericksburg-ballpark-site-work-to-start-next-month/ |access-date=June 26, 2019 |work=Ballpark Digest |publisher=August Publications |date=June 25, 2019}} or August 2019.{{cite web |title=Moving dirt at the baseball stadium site in Fredericksburg |url=https://fredericksburg.today/2019/08/17/moving-a-lot-of-dirt-at-the-baseball-stadium-site-in-fredericksburg/ |website=Fredericksburg Today |access-date=August 31, 2019 |date=August 17, 2019}} On September 25, 2019, general manager Nick Hall said, "We're 100 percent planning on opening April 23."{{cite news |last1=LoMonaco |first1=Joey |title=Fredericksburg Baseball confident in being ready for 2020 season |url=https://www.fredericksburg.com/sports/fredericksburg-baseball-confident-in-being-ready-for-season/article_f4ae9984-0477-563d-b0cd-7dde45ae8872.html |access-date=September 27, 2019 |work=The Free Lance–Star |date=September 25, 2019 |language=en}} MASN reported on January 13, 2020, that Hall had said that construction was on schedule and that he was confident the venue would be ready for the 2020 season.{{cite news |last1=Kerr |first1=Byron |title=FredNats on schedule for new stadium opening April 23 |url=https://www.masnsports.com/byron-kerr/2020/01/fred-nats-on-schedule-for-new-stadium-opening-april-23.html |access-date=January 13, 2020 |work=MASN |date=January 13, 2020 |language=en}} With the 2020 season start postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Nationals held a virtual opening day on April 23, 2020. Hall said that the stadium was baseball-ready though construction was not yet complete, even though, with construction deemed as essential business, "The construction progress has gone off without a hitch."{{cite news |last1=Kerr |first1=Byron |title=Fredericksburg stadium baseball-ready for today's virtual opening day |url=https://www.masnsports.com/byron-kerr/2020/04/fredericksburg-stadium-baseball-ready-for-todays-virtual-opening-day.html |access-date=June 13, 2020 |work=MASN |date=April 23, 2020 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=LoMonaco |first1=Joey |title=FredNats dealing with 'hodgepodge' during COVID-19 |url=https://www.fredericksburg.com/sports/on-eve-of-scheduled-home-opener-fredericksburg-nationals-stay-busy-during-coronavirus-shutdown/article_4d422342-2453-5ce4-b26f-8af00dc70ed4.html |access-date=June 13, 2020 |work=The Free Lance–Star |date=April 21, 2020 |language=en}} Construction was continuing at the start of June 2020.{{cite news |last1=Nawrotzky |first1=Kirk |title=With inaugural season on hold, Fredericksburg Nationals can't wait to take the field |url=https://www.wric.com/sports/with-inaugural-season-on-hold-fredericksburg-nationals-cant-wait-to-finally-play/ |access-date=June 13, 2020 |work=WRIC-TV |date=June 9, 2020}} Since its inaugural 2021 season, the team has used the stadium, which in 2022 was renamed the Virginia Credit Union Stadium, under a 10-year naming rights deal.{{Cite news |date=March 6, 2022 |title=FredNats sell stadium naming rights to credit union |url=https://www.potomaclocal.com/2022/03/06/frednats-sell-stadium-naming-rights-to-credit-union/ |access-date=August 17, 2022 |website=Potomac Local News |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=LoMonaco |first1=Joey |title=Fredericksburg Nationals and Virginia Credit Union announce naming rights deal |url=https://fredericksburg.com/news/local/fredericksburg-nationals-and-virginia-credit-union-announce-naming-rights-deal/article_b0cd9b95-1b3e-5307-b07d-fcdf4f3cf421.html |access-date=August 17, 2022 |work=The Free Lance–Star |date=March 5, 2022 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Griffin |first1=Liam |title=FredNats Ballpark Renamed Virginia Credit Union Stadium |url=https://patch.com/virginia/fredericksburg/frednats-ballpark-renamed-virginia-credit-union-stadium |access-date=August 17, 2022 |work=Patch (Fredericksburg, Virginia) |date=March 7, 2022 |language=en}}
As part of a process to give the team a new name that included Fredericksburg, a "Name the Team" contest that began in April 2019 received more than 2,400 responses on the team name, colors, mascots, and ways to incorporate local history and culture. On October 5, 2019, the team announced that it had changed its name to the Fredericksburg Nationals for the 2020 season and that its marketing nickname for the team – "P-Nats" when the team was the Potomac Nationals – would change to "FredNats."{{cite news | url=http://news.sportslogos.net/2019/10/05/introducing-the-frednats-by-george/ |last=Caputo |first=Phil |title=Introducing the FredNats, by George! |website=SportsLogos.net |date=October 5, 2019 |access-date=October 5, 2019}}{{cite news |last1=LoMonaco |first1=Joey |title=Fredericksburg minor league baseball team unveils new name |url=https://www.fredericksburg.com/sports/fredericksburg-minor-league-baseball-team-unveils-new-name/article_0f399a73-983f-5586-8e73-8f30e7ae364c.html |access-date=October 6, 2019 |work=The Free Lance–Star |date=October 5, 2019 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Hill |first1=Benjamin |title=Fredericksburg makes Nationals news |url=https://www.milb.com/milb/news/fredericksburgs-new-team-announces-nationals-name/c-311026296 |access-date=October 6, 2019 |work=MiLB.com |publisher=Minor League Baseball |date=October 5, 2019 |language=en}}
The team's uniforms were revealed on November 16, 2019, along with a Mary Washington logo at an event on Mary Washington's 311th birthday.{{cite press release |title=Fredericksburg Nationals Unveil Team Jerseys and Mary Washington Logo |url=https://www.milb.com/fredericksburg/news/jersey-mary-logo-reveal/c-311906936 |access-date=November 19, 2019 |work=MiLB.com |publisher=Fredericksburg Nationals |date=November 18, 2019 |language=en}}
In March 2020, the team unveiled their new mascot, Gus, described as "fat and fluffy" with purple fur and bright green eyebrows.{{cite news |last1=LoMonaco |first1=Joey |title=Fredericksburg Nationals unveil new mascot: Gus |url=https://www.fredericksburg.com/sports/fredericksburg-nationals-unveil-new-mascot-gus/article_fcad7a6f-4b7e-5469-a549-2062ac26bd12.html |access-date=April 20, 2020 |work=The Free Lance–Star |date=April 6, 2020 |language=en}}
=2020 season=
The 2020 minor league baseball season was initially postponed, and ultimately cancelled altogether, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite news |title=A Message From Pat O'Conner|url=https://www.milb.com/milb/news/message-from-minor-league-baseball-president-ceo-pat-o-conner-313052288|website=Minor League Baseball|date=March 13, 2020|access-date=May 5, 2020}}{{cite news |title=2020 Minor League Baseball Season Shelved|url=https://www.milb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-shelved|website=Minor League Baseball|date=June 30, 2020|access-date=July 1, 2020}} With no minor league season to play, Fredericksburg became the alternate training site for the Washington Nationals, hosting players who were not on the active roster, as well as a number of minor league players and instructors, during the 2020 season.{{cite web |url=https://www.federalbaseball.com/2020/7/8/21316423/washington-nationals-alternate-training-site-fredericksburg-nationals-new-home |website=Federal Baseball |publisher=SB Nation |title=Washington Nationals' Alternate Training Site in Fredericksburg Nationals' new home... |first=Patrick |last=Reddington |date=July 8, 2020 |access-date=December 20, 2020}}
=2021 season=
Before the Fredericksburg Nationals could play a game at the Class A-Advanced level, the team was notified in December 2020 that it would need to accept relegation to the Low-A level to continue to play as an affiliate of the Washington Nationals. Silber confirmed the Fredericksburg Nationals would continue their affiliation with Washington at the new level for 2021 and beyond.{{cite news |url=https://fredericksburg.today/2020/12/09/frednats-to-be-the-new-low-a-affiliate-of-the-washington-nationals/ |work=Fredericksburg Today |title=FredNats to be the new Low-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals |date=December 9, 2020 |access-date=December 20, 2020}} They were organized into a newly named league, the Low-A East.{{cite web|last=Mayo|first=Jonathan|title=MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/new-minor-league-baseball-structure|website=Major League Baseball|date=February 12, 2021|access-date=February 12, 2021}}
Fredericksburg began competition on May 4, 2021, with a 16–3 loss to the Lynchburg Hillcats at Bank of the James Stadium in Lynchburg, Virginia.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/gameday/nationals-vs-hillcats/2021/05/04/649141|title=Nationals vs. Hillcats Box Score 05/04/21|website=Minor League Baseball|date=May 4, 2021|access-date=May 13, 2021}} The Nationals played their first home game at FredNats Ballpark on May 11, 2021, losing to the Delmarva Shorebirds, 7–5, with 2,065 people in attendance.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/gameday/shorebirds-vs-nationals/2021/05/11/649302|title=Shorebirds vs. Nationals Box Score 05/11/21|website=Minor League Baseball|date=May 11, 2021|access-date=May 13, 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Svrluga |first1=Barry |title=Fredericksburg had to wait for its minor league debut, but it’s time to play ball at last |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/05/12/fredericksburg-nationals-debut-new-stadium/ |access-date=May 18, 2021 |work=The Washington Post |date=May 12, 2021}}
The team finished its inaugural 2021 season with a 44-76 win-loss record, ending in fourth (last) place in the North Division of the Low-A East League. However, the team's total attendance of 199,071 was the highest in its division.{{cite web |title=2021 Low-A East League Standings |url=https://www.statscrew.com/minorbaseball/standings/l-LAEA/y-2021 |website=Stats Crew |access-date=18 August 2022 |language=en}}
=2022 season=
In 2022, the Low-A East renamed itself as the Carolina League, the name historically used by the regional circuit prior to the 2021 reorganization, and was reclassified as a Single-A circuit. The League also changed its structure, from three four-team divisions to two six-team divisions.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/minor-league-baseball-historical-league-names-to-return-in-2022|title=Historical League Names to Return in 2022|website=Minor League Baseball|date=March 16, 2022|access-date=March 16, 2022}}
The team finished the 2022 regular season with a 75-55 overall win-loss record, first in the Carolina League's North Division. More specifically, Fredericksburg finished fifth in its division in the season's first half, with a 33-33 record, and first in the second half with a 42-22 record. In the first round of Carolina League playoffs, the FredNats fell in 3 games to Lynchburg in the best-of-three game series, as the North Division's first-place teams in the two halves of the season.{{cite web |title=Standings, Carolina League |url=https://www.milb.com/standings/carolina-league/ |website=MiLB.com |access-date=13 September 2022 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=LoMONACO |first1=JOEY |title=FredNats expect a big crowd for their first playoff game |url=https://fredericksburg.com/sports/baseball/professional/frednats/article_612dff01-ce72-5ab6-bae2-2b025248670f.html |access-date=13 September 2022 |work=Fredericksburg.com (The Free Lance-Star) |date=12 September 2022 |language=en}}{{cite news |title=Hillcats looking for much-needed momentum heading into final regular-season series |url=https://newsadvance.com/sports/professional/hillcats-looking-for-much-needed-momentum-heading-into-final-regular-season-series/article_d3a8f92a-2d7a-11ed-b4eb-b7460fb3cab2.html |access-date=13 September 2022 |work=The News & Advance |date=5 September 2022 |language=en}}
= 2023 season =
The team finished the 2023 regular season with a 65-63 overall win-loss record, third in the Carolina League's North Division. More specifically, Fredericksburg finished third in its division in the season's first half, with a 30-33 record, and third in the second half with a 35-30 record.{{Cite web |title=Standings |url=https://www.milb.com/fredericksburg/standings/2023 |access-date=2024-10-01 |website=MiLB.com |language=en}}
===2024 season; first league championship===
On September 18, 2024, the FredNats beat the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers, 3-0, at home, in the third game of a 3-game series to win their first Carolina League championship.{{cite news |last1=Payne |first1=Devin |title=Updated: FredNats win Carolina League championship |url=https://www.fredericksburgfreepress.com/2024/09/18/frednats-win-carolina-league-championship/ |access-date=23 September 2024 |work=Fredericksburg Free Press |date=19 September 2024}}
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="font-size:85%"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" |League |The team's final position in the league standings |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center" |Division
|The team's final position in the divisional standings |
|---|
| scope="row" style="text-align:center" |GB
|Games behind the team that finished in first place in the division that season |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center; background-color:#FFE6BD" |{{†|alt=League champions}}
|League champions |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center; background-color:#DDFFDD" |*
|Division champions |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center; background-color:#D0E7FF" |^
|Postseason berth |
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="font-size: 95%; text-align:center;"
! rowspan="2" scope="col" style="background-color:#ffffff; border-top:#231F20 5px solid; border-bottom:#D31245 5px solid; color:#231F20" |Season ! rowspan="2" scope="col" style="background-color:#ffffff; border-top:#231F20 5px solid; border-bottom:#D31245 5px solid; color:#231F20" |League ! colspan="5" scope="col" style="background-color:#ffffff; border-top:#231F20 5px solid; color:#231F20" |Regular season ! colspan="3" scope="col" style="background-color:#ffffff; border-top:#231F20 5px solid; color:#231F20" |Postseason ! rowspan="2" scope="col" style="background-color:#ffffff; border-top:#231F20 5px solid; border-bottom:#D31245 5px solid; color:#231F20" |MLB affiliate ! rowspan="2" scope="col" class="unsortable" style="background-color:#ffffff; border-top:#231F20 5px solid; border-bottom:#D31245 5px solid; color:#231F20" |{{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
| scope="col" style="background-color:#ffffff; border-bottom:#D31245 5px solid; color:#231F20" |Record
! scope="col" style="background-color:#ffffff; border-bottom:#D31245 5px solid; color:#231F20" |Win % ! scope="col" style="background-color:#ffffff; border-bottom:#D31245 5px solid; color:#231F20" |League ! scope="col" style="background-color:#ffffff; border-bottom:#D31245 5px solid; color:#231F20" |Division ! scope="col" style="background-color:#ffffff; border-bottom:#D31245 5px solid; color:#231F20" |{{Abbr|GB|Games behind}} ! scope="col" style="background-color:#ffffff; border-bottom:#D31245 5px solid; color:#231F20" |Record ! scope="col" style="background-color:#ffffff; border-bottom:#D31245 5px solid; color:#231F20" |Win % ! scope="col" class="unsortable" style="background-color:#ffffff; border-bottom:#D31245 5px solid; color:#231F20" |Result |
|---|
| scope="row" style="text-align:center" |2021
|A- E |44-76 |.367 |11th |4th |27 |{{sort|00.0|—}} |{{sort|00.0|—}} |{{sort|00.0|—}} |Washington Nationals |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center" |2022
|CAR |75-55 |.577 |3rd |1st | - |1-2 |.333 |Won Second-Half Northern Division title Lost Northern Division title vs Lynchburg Hillcats, 2-0 |Washington Nationals |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center" |2023
|CAR |65-63 |.508 |6th |4th |7.5 |{{sort|00.0|—}} |{{sort|00.0|—}} |{{sort|00.0|—}} |Washington Nationals |
| 2024
|CAR |74-57 |.565 |2nd |2nd |5 |4-1 |.800 |Won Second-Half Northern Division title{{Cite web |title=Overall Standings |url=https://www.milb.com/fredericksburg/standings/overall-standings |access-date=2024-12-18 |website=MiLB.com |language=en}} Won Northern Division title vs. Carolina Mudcats, 2-0 Won Carolina League Title vs Kannapolis Cannonballers, 2-1 |Washington Nationals |
| class="sortbottom"
! scope="row" style="text-align:center" |Totals !— !258-251 !.506 !— !— !— !5-3 !.625 !— !— !— |
Roster
{{Fredericksburg Nationals roster}}
See also
{{Portal|Baseball|Washington, D.C.}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.milb.com/fredericksburg Official website]
{{Washington Nationals}}
{{Carolina League}}
{{Virginia Sports}}
Category:Baseball teams established in 2020
Category:Sports in Northern Virginia
Category:Professional baseball teams in Virginia
Category:Washington Nationals minor league affiliates
Category:Carolina League teams