Nationals prospects are getting closer to Washington, D.C. -- literally.
The organization’s Triple-A affiliate is now the Rochester Red Wings (N.Y.) after moving from the Fresno Grizzlies (Calif.). The Nationals are the fourth Major League partner of the Red Wings, following the Twins (2003-20), Orioles (1961-2002) and Cardinals (1928-60).
“We are very excited to partner with the Rochester Red Wings and to have our Triple-A affiliate back in the region,” Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said. “The Red Wings are a well-built, well-run organization that will be an asset to our player development system, and we are proud to be a part of Rochester, New York’s rich baseball tradition that dates back to the late 1800s.”
The Red Wings will play at Frontier Field, where a 21-year-old Stephen Strasburg struck out nine over 6 1/3 scoreless innings as a member of the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs in 2010. Bryce Harper also played his last Minor League game there in ‘12 with the Chiefs before making his Major League debut for the Nats.
Ties between the Nationals and Red Wings run through the front office and coaching staff, too. Washington’s assistant general manager and vice president of player personnel Doug Harris, Minor League coaches Tommy Shields and Matthew Lecroy and former manager Davey Johnson played for the Red Wings. Former Nationals manager Frank Robinson also managed the Red Wings.
“With having had only three previous Major League affiliates, this represents an historic change for the Red Wings,” said Red Wings president/CEO/COO Naomi Silver. “I think our fans will enjoy the geographic closeness of the two cities, making it easy to follow their favorite players to the big leagues, and it’s exciting to have this new relationship with the team from the nation’s capital. Even more so, this is a fine organization with great ownership and baseball operations people, and we are looking forward to working with them as we move on to the next chapter in Red Wings history.”
Check out MLB Pipeline’s list of the Nationals' Top 30 prospects to see who could be wearing a Red Wings uniform in 2021.