The Washington Nationals announced this afternoon that 23-year-old 3B/DH Matthew Skole and 24-year-old RHP Nathan Karns had been named the Minor League Player and Pitcher of the Year, respectively, for the 2012 season. Skole, a 2011 5th Round pick out of Georgia, has a combined .292/.427/.562 line with 28 doubles, 27 HRs and 104 RBIs in 118 games and 521 PAs between Class-A Hagerstown and High-A Potomac in his second pro season after 72 games at Class-A Short Season Auburn in 2011. Karns, 24, an '09 12th Round pick out of Texas Tech University, is (11-4) between Hagerstown and Potomac with a 2.03 ERA, 2.37 FIP, 21 BB (4.26 BB/9) and 61 Ks (12.38 K/9) in 11 games and 44.1 IP for the Suns and a 2.26 ERA, 2.21 FIP, 26 BB (3.27 BB/9) and 87 Ks (10.93 K/9) in 13 starts and 71.2 IP for the P-Nats.

• The Nationals made the announcement via Twitter this morning:

The #Nationals today named INF Matthew Skole and RHP Nathan Karns Minor League Player and Pitcher of the Year, respectively.

— Nationals PR (@NationalsPR) September 3, 2012

• Here's a list of previous Minor League Player And Pitcher of the Year Award Winners:

• The Potomac Nationals released on interview with Nathan Karns on Twitter this morning:

For an interview from Nathan Karns on winning the award and his season, please click here: soundcloud.com/potomacnationa… #nationals @nationals

— Potomac Nationals (@PNats42) September 3, 2012

The Nationals announced that both Skole and Karns would be in Nationals Park to be honored this Friday night before the Nationals game with the Miami Marlins.