Nationals extend player development contract with Auburn Doubledays

The Washington Nationals today announced the signing of a two-year Player Development Contract extension (which begins in 2015) with the Auburn Doubledays of the short-season Class A New York-Penn League through the 2016 season. Nationals President of Baseball Operations & General Manager Mike Rizzo, Nationals Vice President of Player Personnel Bob Boone, Assistant General Manager & Vice President of Player Development Doug Harris and Director of Player Development Mark Scialabba made the joint announcement. "We are proud to continue our association with the Auburn Doubledays," Rizzo said. "They have been a quality partner of ours for several years now and we look forward to our ongoing partnership." "We are pleased to extend our Player Development Contract with the Washington Nationals," Auburn General Manager Mike Voutsinas said. "The Nats' commitment to developing quality young men both on and off the field makes them an ideal Major League affiliate." "Auburn has been a great place for us to send our players, many of them fresh out of high school or college and just beginning their professional careers," Harris said. "We are thrilled to continue sending many of our young players there." The Nationals began their relationship with Auburn in October of 2010, with the Doubledays going 184-187 (.495) during that stretch, including division championships in 2011 and 2012. Since the 2011 season, Auburn has often been the first stop for many players as they start their ascent through Washington's minor league system. The Auburn Doubledays were formed in 1957 and began play in the NY-P League the following season. Prior to aligning with the Nationals, Auburn served as the short-season affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays from 2001-2010. The Doubledays reside in the New York-Penn League's six-team Pickney Division with Batavia, Jamestown, Mahoning Valley, State College and Williamsport. The Doubledays currently play in 2,706-seat Falcon Park, which opened in 1995 and includes arguably the best home clubhouse in the NY-P League. The team is named after Abner Doubleday, the Civil War general and Auburn, New York, native who has often been credited with inventing the game of baseball.