Nationals acquire SS Zachary Walters from Diamondbacks

The Washington Nationals today acquired 21 year-old switch-hitting shortstop Zachary Walters from the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for right-handed pitcher Jason Marquis. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. In his second professional season, Walters is a career .302 (192-for-636) hitter with 45 doubles, 10 triples, 13 home runs and 26 stolen bases in 166 games. Walters earned All-Star status (2011 Midwest League, 2010 Northwest League) in each of his two seasons in Arizona's system. Walters--who stands 6-foot-3, 195 lbs.--is currently batting .302 (83-for-275) with Single-A South Bend and he ranks among Midwest League leaders in runs (tied second, 69), hits (third, 109), total bases (third, 175) and extra-base hits (fourth, 42). In his pro debut with Yakima in 2010, Walters hit .302 with 26 extra-base hits, 43 RBI and 14 stolen bags in 69 short-season Single-A Northwest League contests. Drafted by Arizona in the ninth round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft, Walters played college ball at the University of San Diego, where he was teammates with Nationals minor-league lefthander Sammy Solis. Walters has been assigned by Washington to Potomac of the Single-A Carolina League. Marquis, 32, went 8-5 with a 3.95 ERA in 20 starts this season with Washington.