Nationals option Gutierrez, Rodriguez to Double-A

By Pete Kerzel

Nationals

March 09, 2018, 6:22am

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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Nationals made a pair of moves this morning, adding a little roster housekeeping to one of their two scheduled off-days this spring.

Infielder Kelvin Gutierrez and right-hander Jefry Rodriguez were optioned to Double-A Harrisburg. Both players were added to the 40-man roster on the same day last fall, Nov. 20, to protect them from the Rule 5 draft, and both were farmed out of major league camp on the same morning.

Gutierrez, 23, went 6-for-26 (.231) with a double and four RBIs in Grapefruit League play. Last season, between the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League and Single-A Potomac, Gutierrez slashed .278/.340/.408 with two homers and 17 RBIs. He followed that up with a .350/.438/.435 showing in the Arizona Fall League with one homer and nine RBIs.

Rodriguez, 24, made three relief appearances, covering three innings, and allowed a run on two hits with two walks and two strikeouts this spring. Last May, while pitching for Potomac, Rodriguez received an 80-game suspension for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance.

The moves leave the Nationals with 52 players in major league camp.