Nationals select Jeff Kobernus from Triple-A Syracuse, designate right-hander Yunesky Maya for assignment

The Washington Nationals today selected infielder/outfielder Jeff Kobernus from Syracuse of the Triple-A International League and designated right-handed pitcher Yunesky Maya for assignment. Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Kobernus joins the Nationals for his first Major League assignment, after batting .333 (58-for-174) with eight doubles, two triples, one home run, 20 RBI and 13 walks in 43 games with the Chiefs. The 24-year-old ranks among the International League's leaders with 33 runs scored (second), 21 stolen bases (second) and 58 hits (third). Kobernus - who was selected by Boston in the '12 Rule 5 Draft, then traded to Detroit - was accepted back to the Nationals organization, per Rule 5 guidelines, on March 23, 2013. He was originally acquired by the Nationals in the second round of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of California-Berkeley. In parts of five minor-league seasons ('09-13), Kobernus batted .286 with 77 extra-base hits, 141 stolen bases and 189 runs scored. He earned All-Star status and led his respective league in stolen bases each of the last two campaigns, swiping 42 bags last season with Double-A Harrisburg (Eastern League) and posting 53 stolen bases in 2011 for Single-A Potomac (Carolina League). Maya, 31, appeared in just one game this season with Washington and is 1-5 with a 5.80 ERA in 16 games/10 starts during three seasons (2010-11, 2013) with the Nationals.