Nationals add seven players to active roster

The Washington Nationals added seven players to the active roster on Friday as September's roster expansion period began. The Nationals recalled catcher Pedro Severino, outfielder Brian Goodwin, right-handed pitchers Trevor Gott and Rafael Martin, and left-handed pitcher Matt Grace from Triple-A Syracuse. Additionally, Washington selected the contracts of left-handed pitcher Sean Burnett and right-handed pitcher Mat Latos from Triple-A Syracuse.

Outfielder Matt den Dekker was designated for assignment and right-handed pitcher Joe Ross (right shoulder inflammation) was transferred to the 60-day disabled list. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements.

Severino rejoins the Nationals for the third time this season after appearing in eight games across two earlier stints. The 23-year-old catcher hit .412 in the Major Leagues this season (7-for-17) with one home run, one double, and two RBI. In 82 games with Triple-A this season, Severino hit .271 with 13 doubles, two homers, 21 RBI, and 19 walks. In six Minor League seasons, Severino has caught 35 percent of attempted base stealers.

Goodwin, 25, returns to the Nationals after 10 games with Triple-A following his Aug. 18 option. The outfielder made a strong impression in the first Major League call-up of his career, hitting .250 (4-for-16) with a walk and two RBI in seven games (four games started). Goodwin hit .280 in 119 Triple-A games this year, collecting 25 doubles, one triple, 14 home runs, 68 RBI and 15 stolen bases, while walking 46 times.

Martin also rejoins Washington for his second MLB stint of the season. The 32-year-old right-hander appeared in one game for the Nationals, throwing one perfect inning on June 27 against the New York Mets. He was 2-4 with a 4.56 ERA in 50 games at Triple-A this season, securing 22 saves and posting a 9.1 strikeouts-per-nine-innings.

Gott, 24, and Grace, 27, each join the Nationals' active roster for their first Major League assignments of the season. Gott went 3-4 with a 4.57 ERA in 35 Minor League games, and posted scoreless appearances in nine of his final 11 Minor League outings of the year. Grace was 2-3 with a 2.94 ERA in the Minor Leagues this season. In 38 games (35 with SYR), he struck out 36 and walked just nine.

This marks a homecoming of sorts for Burnett as he rejoins the Nationals Major League roster for the first time since 2012. An integral member of Washington's bullpen from 2009-12, and one of the final cuts out of 2016 Spring Training (to which he was a non-roster invitee), Burnett has posted a 2.28 ERA in 47 Minor League games this season spread across the Triple-A teams of the Dodgers, Braves, Twins, and Nationals. Reacquired by Washington on Aug. 19, Burnett returns to the Major Leagues for the first time since May, 2014 with the Los Angeles Angels.

Latos, 28, joins the Nationals after posting a 1-0 record and a 1.29 ERA in six Minor League starts. Signed as a Minor League free agent on July 3, Latos was 1-0 with a 1.06 ERA in three starts with Triple-A Syracuse. He began the year with the Chicago White Sox, where he was 6-2 with a 4.62 ERA in 11 Major League starts.

With these additions, the Nationals currently have 32 players on their active roster.