Lombardozzi, Peacock earn minor league honors from Nationals

The Washington Nationals today named infielder Steve Lombardozzi Minor League Player of the Year and right-hander Brad Peacock Minor League Pitcher of the Year for the 2011 season. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo, Assistant General Manager and Vice President of Player Development Bob Boone, Director of Player Development Doug Harris and Director of Minor League Operations Mark Scialabba made the joint announcement. Lombardozzi batted .309 with 25 doubles, nine triples, eight home runs, 52 RBI and 30 stolen bases in 134 games this season with Syracuse of the Triple-A International League and Harrisburg of the Double-A Eastern League. For the second consecutive season, Lombardozzi paced Washington minor leaguers in hits (172) and runs scored (86). Lombardozzi posted an impressive .997 fielding percentage, committing just 2 errors in 597 total chances while playing second base, shortstop and third base with Syracuse and Harrisburg. The son of former Twins/Astros second baseman Steve Lombardozzi, Sr., the 22-year-old Lombardozzi was selected by the Nationals in the 19th round of the '08 First-Year Player Draft. During four seasons in the minor leagues, the Fulton, MD native has hit .298 with 17 homers, 183 RBI and 74 stolen bases in 447 games. An Eastern League All-Star and a participant in this season's XM All-Star Futures Game, Peacock went 15-3 with a 2.39 ERA and 177 strikeouts in 25 games/22 starts in 2011 with Syracuse and Harrisburg. The 23-year-old ranks among all minor league pitchers in wins (tied for second), strikeouts per 9.0 innings (sixth, 10.86) and strikeouts (seventh). Last week, the Eastern League named Peacock its 2011 Pitcher of the Year. The right-hander was cited in Baseball America's annual Best Tools survey as the "Best Pitching Prospect" and possessing the "Best Control" in the EL. Peacock twice won the league's Pitcher of the Week award in 2011. Peacock, who was tabbed by Baseball America as the No. 10 prospect in the Nationals' system entering 2011, was selected by Washington in the 41st round of the '06 First-Year Player Draft. Lombardozzi and Peacock will be honored for their accomplishments during an on-field ceremony prior to tonight's 7:05 p.m. contest against Houston.