Nationals name Jose Marmolejos their Minor League Player & Reynaldo Lopez Pitcher of the Year

For the second straight season, Washington Nationals’ prospect Jose Marmolejos was named the organization’s Minor League Player of the Year.

Reynaldo Lopez was named the Minor League Pitcher of the Year for 2016 as well this afternoon.

In addition, Nats’ outfield prospect Rafael Bautista was named the fourth recipient of the annual Bob Boone Award, which honors the "Nationals’ minor leaguer who best demonstrates the professionalism, leadership, loyalty, passion, selflessness, durability, determination and work ethic required to play the game the Washington Nationals Way.”

Marmolejos, 23, put up a .289/.370/.475 line, 45 doubles, five triples and 13 HRs in 136 games and 579 plate appearances between High-A Potomac and Double-A Harrisburg after putting up a .310/.363/.485 line with 39 doubles, five triples and 11 HRs in 124 games and 521 PAs at Low-A Hagerstown in 2015.

Marmolejos, who was signed by Modesto Ulloa in June of 2011, hit, “... a career-best 45 doubles [which] were tied for the second-most in all of Minor League Baseball,” and, a press release on the award noted, “[h]e also led the organization in runs scored (87) and total bases (240).”

Reynaldo Lopez, 22, who pitched at Double and Triple-A in the Nationals’ system this season, worked his way up to make his major league debut, going (5-7) in 19 games and 109 ¹⁄₃ innings pitched.

Lopez was ranked 5th on Baseball America’s list of the Washington Nationals’ top prospects before the start of this season, which is his fifth campaign in Washington’s system after he too was signed by Modesto Ulloa, on June 21, 2012.

Bautista, the Bob Boone Award recipient, was signed by Nationals’ scout Pablo Arias as a non-drafted free agent on January 3, 2012.

In 136 games and 607 PAs at Double-A Harrisburg this season, the 23-year-old put up a .282/.344/.341 line with 12 doubles, four triples and four home runs for the Senators.

All three players will be recognized in an on-field ceremony tomorrow afternoon before the start of the Nationals matchup with the Miami Marlins.