Fredericksburg Nationals

Minor league baseball team

Fredericksburg Nationals

* Founded in 1984
* Based in Fredericksburg, Virginia, since 2020

|  |

|

Team logo | Cap insignia
Minor league affiliations
Class| Single-A (2021–present)
Previous classes| Class A-Advanced (2020)
League| Carolina League (1984–present)
Division| North Division
Major league affiliations
Team| Washington Nationals (2005–present)
Previous teams|

* Cincinnati Reds (2003–2004)
* St. Louis Cardinals (1997–2002)
* Chicago White Sox (1994–1996)
* New York Yankees (1987–1993)
* Pittsburgh Pirates (1984–1986)

Minor league titles
League titles (5)|

* 1989
* 2008
* 2010
* 2014
* 2024

Division titles (10)|

* 1989
* 1991
* 1995
* 2004
* 2008
* 2010
* 2013
* 2014
* 2018
* 2024

Second-half titles (2)|

* 2022
* 2024

Team data
Name| FredNats

Previous names

* 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

Mascot| Gus[1]
Ballpark| Virginia Credit Union Stadium

Previous parks

| Northwest Federal Field at Pfitzner Stadium (1984–2019)

Owner(s)/
Operator(s)

| Diamond Baseball Holdings[2]
President| Seth Silber[2]
General manager| Robert Perry[2]
Manager| Jake Lowery[3]
Website| 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

[edit]

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.[4] The 5,000-seat multi-purpose stadium, as then planned, would include a 300-seat club facility and 13 suites.[5] 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.[6]

A groundbreaking ceremony was held on February 24, 2019,[7] but construction work did not begin until July[8] or August 2019.[9] On September 25, 2019, general manager Nick Hall said, "We're 100 percent planning on opening April 23."[10] 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.[11] 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."[12][13] Construction was continuing at the start of June 2020.[14] 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.[15][16][17]

As part of a process to give the team a new name that included Fredericksburg,[6] 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.[8] 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."[18][19][20]

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.[21]

In March 2020, the team unveiled their new mascot, Gus, described as "fat and fluffy" with purple fur and bright green eyebrows.[1]

### 2020 season

[edit]

The 2020 minor league baseball season was initially postponed, and ultimately cancelled altogether, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[22][23] 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.[24]

### 2021 season

[edit]

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.[25] They were organized into a newly named league, the Low-A East.[26]

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.[27] 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.[28][29]

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.[30]

### 2022 season

[edit]

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.[31]

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.[32][33][34]

### 2023 season

[edit]

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.[35]

### 2024 season; first league championship

[edit]

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.[36]

### 2025 season: Sale of the team

[edit]

On June 9, 2025, the Silber family announced that the FredNats had been sold to Diamond Baseball Holdings, joining their fellow Nationals affiliate Harrisburg Senators among Diamond's MiLB holdings.[2]

## Season-by-season results

[edit]

League | The team's final position in the league standings

|

Division | The team's final position in the divisional standings
GB | Games behind the team that finished in first place in the division that season
Season  | League  | Regular-season  | Postseason  | MLB affiliate  | Ref.

|
|
|
|
|

Record  | Win %  | League  | Division  | GB | Record  | Win %  | Result
2021  | A-E  | 44–76  | .367  | 11th  | 4th  | 27  | — | — | — | Washington Nationals  | [37]
2022  | CAR  | 75–55  | .577  | 3rd  | 1st  | —  | 1–2  | .333  | Won Second-Half Northern Division title[38]
Lost Northern Division title vs. Lynchburg Hillcats, 2–1  | Washington Nationals  | [38]
2023  | CAR  | 65–63  | .508  | 6th  | 4th  | 7.5  | — | — | — | Washington Nationals  | [39]
2024  | CAR  | 74–57  | .565  | 2nd  | 2nd  | 5  | 4–1  | .800  | Won Second-Half Northern Division title[40]
Won Northern Division title vs. Carolina Mudcats, 2–0
Won Carolina League championship vs. Kannapolis Cannon Ballers, 2–1 | Washington Nationals  | [40]
Totals | —  | 258–251  | .506  | —  | —  | —  | 5–3  | .625  | —  | —  | —
Virginia Credit Union Stadium in 2023 Ballpark main entrance

## Roster

[edit]

Fredericksburg Nationals roster

* v
* t
* e

Players | Coaches/Other

|

Pitchers

* 17 Merrick Baldo
* 26 Merritt Beeker
* \-- Gavin Bruni
* 16 Kevin Dowdell
* 35 Victor Farias
* 21 Luke Johnson
* 18 Tommy Kane
* 37 Alexander Meckley
* 27 Ryan Minckler
* 11 Bryant Olson
* 32 Johan Otanez
* 24 Bryan Polanco
* 30 Angel Roman
* 14 Brayan Romero
* 23 R.J. Sales
* 36 Liam Sullivan

|  |

Catchers

* 4 Kevin Bazzell
* 7 Christian Fagnant
* 12 Nick Hollifield

Infielders

* 5 Everett Cooper III
* 20 Randal Diaz
* 10 Luke Dickerson
* 15 Angel Feliz
* 39 Wyatt Henseler
* 29 Jorgelys Mota
* 2 Rafael Ramirez Jr.
* \-- Yoander Rivero
* 38 Jacob Walsh

Outfielders

* 1 Brenner Cox
* 19 Elijah Green
* 25 Nick Peoples
* 31 Ethan Petry
* 22 Cristhian Vaquero

|  |

Manager

* 41 Billy McMillon

Coaches

* 47 Mike Habas (hitting)
* 33 Justin Lord (pitching)
* 3 Luis Ordaz (development)

60-day injured list

* \-- Juan Abreu
* \-- Gabriel Agostini
* \-- Camilo Sanchez (full season)

7-day injured list
* On Washington Nationals 40-man roster
~ Development list
# Rehab assignment
∞ Reserve list
‡ Restricted list
§ Suspended list
† Temporarily inactive list
Roster updated August 12, 2025
Transactions
→ More rosters: MiLB • Carolina League
→ Washington Nationals minor league players

## See also

[edit]

* Baseball portal
* Washington, D.C. portal

* Sports in Washington, D.C.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b LoMonaco, Joey (April 6, 2020). "Fredericksburg Nationals unveil new mascot: Gus". The Free Lance–Star. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
2. ^ a b c d Mazzeo, Mike (June 9, 2025). "DBH acquires Single-A Fredericksburg Nationals". Sports Business Journal. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
3. ^ "Field Staff". milb.com. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
4. ^ Hambrick, Greg (June 26, 2018). "Potomac Nationals announce plans for Fredericksburg stadium". InsideNoVa.com. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
5. ^ "P-Nats Announce First Fredericksburg Ballpark Founding Partnership". Ballpark Digest. July 9, 2018. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
6. ^ a b Jett, Cathy (November 13, 2018). "Fredericksburg finalizes $35 million stadium deal with Potomac Nationals' owners". The Free Lance–Star. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
7. ^ Spedden, Zach (February 26, 2019). "New Fredericksburg Ballpark Breaks Ground". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
8. ^ a b "Fredericksburg Ballpark Site Work to Start Next Month". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. June 25, 2019. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
9. ^ "Moving dirt at the baseball stadium site in Fredericksburg". Fredericksburg Today. August 17, 2019. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
10. ^ LoMonaco, Joey (September 25, 2019). "Fredericksburg Baseball confident in being ready for 2020 season". The Free Lance–Star. Retrieved September 27, 2019.
11. ^ Kerr, Byron (January 13, 2020). "FredNats on schedule for new stadium opening April 23". MASN. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
12. ^ Kerr, Byron (April 23, 2020). "Fredericksburg stadium baseball-ready for today's virtual opening day". MASN. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
13. ^ LoMonaco, Joey (April 21, 2020). "FredNats dealing with 'hodgepodge' during COVID-19". The Free Lance–Star. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
14. ^ Nawrotzky, Kirk (June 9, 2020). "With inaugural season on hold, Fredericksburg Nationals can't wait to take the field". WRIC-TV. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
15. ^ "FredNats sell stadium naming rights to credit union". Potomac Local News. March 6, 2022. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
16. ^ LoMonaco, Joey (March 5, 2022). "Fredericksburg Nationals and Virginia Credit Union announce naming rights deal". The Free Lance–Star. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
17. ^ Griffin, Liam (March 7, 2022). "FredNats Ballpark Renamed Virginia Credit Union Stadium". Patch (Fredericksburg, Virginia). Retrieved August 17, 2022.
18. ^ Caputo, Phil (October 5, 2019). "Introducing the FredNats, by George!". SportsLogos.net. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
19. ^ LoMonaco, Joey (October 5, 2019). "Fredericksburg minor league baseball team unveils new name". The Free Lance–Star. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
20. ^ Hill, Benjamin (October 5, 2019). "Fredericksburg makes Nationals news". MiLB.com. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
21. ^ "Fredericksburg Nationals Unveil Team Jerseys and Mary Washington Logo". MiLB.com (Press release). Fredericksburg Nationals. November 18, 2019. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
22. ^ "A Message From Pat O'Conner". Minor League Baseball. March 13, 2020. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
23. ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball Season Shelved". Minor League Baseball. June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
24. ^ Reddington, Patrick (July 8, 2020). "Washington Nationals' Alternate Training Site in Fredericksburg Nationals' new home..." Federal Baseball. SB Nation. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
25. ^ "FredNats to be the new Low-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals". Fredericksburg Today. December 9, 2020. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
26. ^ Mayo, Jonathan (February 12, 2021). "MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues". Major League Baseball. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
27. ^ "Nationals vs. Hillcats Box Score 05/04/21". Minor League Baseball. May 4, 2021. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
28. ^ "Shorebirds vs. Nationals Box Score 05/11/21". Minor League Baseball. May 11, 2021. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
29. ^ Svrluga, Barry (May 12, 2021). "Fredericksburg had to wait for its minor league debut, but it's time to play ball at last". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
30. ^ "2021 Low-A East League Standings". Stats Crew. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
31. ^ "Historical League Names to Return in 2022". Minor League Baseball. March 16, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
32. ^ "Standings, Carolina League". MiLB.com. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
33. ^ LoMONACO, JOEY (September 12, 2022). "FredNats expect a big crowd for their first playoff game". Fredericksburg.com (The Free Lance-Star). Retrieved September 13, 2022.
34. ^ "Hillcats looking for much-needed momentum heading into final regular-season series". The News & Advance. September 5, 2022. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
35. ^ "Standings". MiLB.com. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
36. ^ Payne, Devin (September 19, 2024). "Updated: FredNats win Carolina League championship". Fredericksburg Free Press. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
37. ^ "2021 Fredericksburg Standings". MiLB.com. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
38. ^ a b "2022 Overall Standings". MiLB.com. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
39. ^ "2023 Overall Standings". MiLB.com. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
40. ^ a b "Overall Standings". MiLB.com. Retrieved December 18, 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Washington Nationals

* Established in 1969
* Formerly the Montreal Expos
* Based in Washington, D.C.

Franchise|

* History
* in Montreal
* in Washington, D.C.
* Seasons
* Records
* No-hitters
* Owners and executives
* Managers
* Players
* Broadcasters
* First-round draft picks
* Opening Day starting pitchers
* All articles

Ballparks|

* Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
* Nationals Park

Spring training:|

* Space Coast Stadium
* CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches

Culture|

* Presidential First Pitch
* Presidents Race
* Screech
* How Do You Know
* Rubber Chicken Man
* "Bustin' Loose"
* "Baby Shark"
* Navy Yard–Ballpark station
* Nationals Park shooting

Lore|

* Alfonso Soriano's 40–40 season
* 2012 NLDS Game 5
* 18-inning playoff game
* Max Scherzer's 20K game
* 2019 playoff run
* Interference call on Trea Turner
* Juan Soto trade

Key personnel|

* Owner: Mark Lerner
* General manager: Mike DeBartolo (interim)
* Manager: Miguel Cairo (interim)

Rivalries|

* Baltimore Orioles
* Philadelphia Phillies

Retired numbers|

* 11
* 42

World Series
Championships (1)|

* 2019

League pennants (1)|

* 2019

Division titles (4)|

* 2012
* 2014
* 2016
* 2017

Wild card titles|

* 2019

Minor league affiliates|

* Triple-A: Rochester Red Wings
* Double-A: Harrisburg Senators
* High-A: Wilmington Blue Rocks
* Single-A: Fredericksburg Nationals
* Rookie: FCL Nationals
* DSL Nationals

Broadcasting|

| Television|

* Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN)

|

Radio|

* 106.7 The Fan
* Radio network affiliates

Broadcasters|

* Bob Carpenter
* Kevin Frandsen
* Bo Porter
* Charlie Slowes
* Dave Jageler

Seasons (21)

2000s|

* 2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 ·  2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009

2010s|

* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019 (postseason)

2020s|

* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

* v
* t
* e

Carolina League

North Division|

* Carolina Mudcats
* Delmarva Shorebirds
* Fredericksburg Nationals
* Hickory Crawdads
* Lynchburg Hillcats
* Salem Red Sox

South Division|

* Augusta GreenJackets
* Charleston RiverDogs
* Columbia Fireflies
* Fayetteville Woodpeckers
* Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
* Myrtle Beach Pelicans

* Champions
* MVP Award
* Rosters
* Stadiums

* v
* t
* e

Sports teams based in Virginia

Baseball|

Norfolk Tides

Richmond Flying Squirrels

Fredericksburg Nationals
Lynchburg Hillcats
Salem Red Sox
ApL
Danville Otterbots
Pulaski River Turtles
CPL
Martinsville Mustangs
Peninsula Pilots
Tri-City Chili Peppers
VBL
Charlottesville Tom Sox
Covington Lumberjacks
Front Royal Cardinals
Harrisonburg Turks
New Market Rebels
Purcellville Cannons
Staunton Braves
Strasburg Express
Waynesboro Generals
Winchester Royals
Woodstock River Bandits

Basketball|

ABA
Richmond Elite

Football|

WFA
Richmond Black Widows

Ice hockey|

ECHL
Norfolk Admirals
SPHL
Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs
FPHL
Blue Ridge Bobcats

Roller derby|

WFTDA
Charlottesville Derby Dames
Dominion Derby Girls
NRV Rollergirls
River City Rollergirls
Rocktown Rollers
Star City Roller Girls

Rugby league|

USARL
Northern Virginia Eagles

Rugby union|

MLR
Old Glory DC

Soccer|

USLC
Loudoun United FC
USL1
Richmond Kickers
USL2
Northern Virginia FC
Lionsbridge FC
Virginia Beach United FC
NPSL
Charlottesville Alliance FC
Northern Virginia United FC
Virginia Beach City FC
Virginia Dream FC

College athletics|

| NCAA
Division I|

FBS
James Madison
Liberty
Old Dominion
Virginia
Virginia Tech
FCS
Hampton
Norfolk State
Richmond
VMI
William & Mary
Non-football
George Mason
Longwood
Radford
VCU

|

NCAA
Division II|

Emory and Henry
Ferrum
UVA Wise
Virginia State
Virginia Union

NCAA
Division III|

Bridgewater
Christopher Newport
Eastern Mennonite
Hampden–Sydney
Lynchburg
Mary Washington
Randolph–Macon
Regent
Roanoke
Shenandoah
Southern Virginia
Virginia Wesleyan
Washington and Lee

NAIA|

Bluefield

USCAA|

Apprentice
Christendom

* v
* t
* e

Diamond Baseball Holdings

Subsidiary of Silver Lake

Triple-A|

* Albuquerque Isotopes
* Charlotte Knights
* Gwinnett Stripers
* Iowa Cubs
* Louisville Bats
* Memphis Redbirds
* Norfolk Tides
* Oklahoma City Comets
* Omaha Storm Chasers
* Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
* St. Paul Saints
* Syracuse Mets
* Worcester Red Sox

Double-A|

* Altoona Curve
* Arkansas Travelers
* Birmingham Barons
* Binghamton Rumble Ponies
* Columbus Clingstones
* Harrisburg Senators
* Midland RockHounds
* New Hampshire Fisher Cats
* Portland Sea Dogs
* Springfield Cardinals
* Tulsa Drillers
* Wichita Wind Surge

High-A|

* Brooklyn Cyclones
* Hub City Spartanburgers
* Hudson Valley Renegades
* Lansing Lugnuts
* Rome Emperors
* Tri-City Dust Devils
* Vancouver Canadians
* Winston-Salem Dash
* Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

Single-A|

* Augusta GreenJackets
* Hickory Crawdads
* Fredericksburg Nationals
* Fresno Grizzlies
* Inland Empire 66ers
* Modesto Nuts
* Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
* Salem Red Sox
* San Jose Giants

*[Ref.]: Reference
*[GB]: Games behind
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template