Nationals sign Kevin Frandsen

The Washington Nationals today signed infielder/outfielder Kevin Frandsen to a Major League contract. Frandsen will join the Nationals' in time for Thursday's Grapefruit League finale at New York (NL). Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.

          Frandsen is a career .259 (263-for-1015) hitter with 49 doubles, five triples, 14 home runs and 93 RBI in 402 big league contests spanning seven seasons with the Phillies, Angels and Giants. Against left-handed pitching, Frandsen is a career .289 hitter with a .343 on-base percentage and .435 slugging percentage.

          The 31-year-old Frandsen is exceptionally versatile defensively, having appeared at six positions during his career (first base, second base, third base, shortstop, left field, right field).

          Last season, Frandsen paced MLB with 14 pinch hits despite starting 52 games (35 at third base, 13 at second base, four at third base) and being hit by 11 pitches in his final campaign with Philadelphia. Frandsen is a career .265 (27-for-102) hitter with 17 RBI in the pinch.

          A graduate of San Jose State University, Frandsen was San Francisco's 12th-round selection in the 2004 First-Year Player Draft.

          The Nationals currently have 29 players in big league camp, including right-handed pitcher Erik Davis, who is currently on the 60-Day Disabled List.