Washington Nationals announce 2023 Minor League Awards

The Washington Nationals selected the following players as their 2023 Minor League Award winners on Thursday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo and Director of Player Development De Jon Watson made the announcement. The winners will be recognized during a pre-game ceremony prior to Sunday’s game.

• Hitter of the Year – James Wood
• Pitcher of the Year – Andrew Alvarez
• Defensive Player of the Year – Trey Lipscomb
• Baserunner of the Year – Johnathon Thomas
• Nationals Way Award – Jacob Young

Wood, 21, ranked in Washington’s Minor League system in home runs (1^st, 26), RBI (1^st, 91), slugging percentage (1^st, .520), OPS (2^nd, .873), doubles (2^nd, 28), triples (2^nd, 8) and hits (3^rd, 124). He set career highs in nearly every statistical category. He was selected to represent the Washington Nationals in the 2023 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game.

Wood finished the season slashing .262/.353/.520 with 28 doubles, eight triples, 26 home runs, 91 RBI, 65 walks, 18 stolen bases and 80 runs scored in 129 games between High-A Wilmington and Double-A Harrisburg.

From April 25-May 28, Wood reached base safely in 30 straight games, the longest streak in Minor League Baseball at the time. During this stretch, he hit .299 with eight doubles, three triples, seven homers, 25 RBI, 22 walks, five stolen bases and 28 runs scored.

Wood was named the South Atlantic League Player of the Week for the week of May 15 after hitting .346 (9-for-26) with three doubles, a triple, two homers, seven RBI and four walks across six games. He capped off his season with Eastern League Player of the Week honors (Sept. 18) after hitting .450 (9-for-20) with two doubles, a homer and six RBI.

Wood was selected in the second round of the 2021 First-Year Player Draft out of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. He was signed by San Diego Padres scout John Martin before being acquired by the Nationals. Wood is currently rated by Baseball America and MLBPipeline.com as the No. 2 prospect in Washington’s Minor League system and the No. 7 overall prospect in Minor League Baseball according to both outlets.

Alvarez, 24, went 7-7 with a 2.99 ERA, 116 strikeouts and 43 walks in 129.1 innings across 26 games (22 starts) between High-A Wilmington and Double-A Harrisburg. From April 7 through June 20, Alvarez pitched to a 2.53 ERA (16 ER/57.0 IP) with 49 strikeouts and a 4-1 record across 13 games (10 starts). He pitched at least 5.0 innings in five of the starts. Opponents hit .229 with two home runs during this span.

Alvarez finished the season ranked in Washington’s Minor League system in ERA (1^st, 2.99), WHIP (1^st, 1.17), innings pitched (T1^st, 129.1), strikeouts (2^nd, 116) and opponents’ average (2^nd .229). It marked the first time a Nationals pitcher recorded a sub-3.00 ERA in a full Minor League season since 2018.

Alvarez’s best start was on August 12 at Bowling Green (TBR), tossing 8.0 no-hit innings, walking two and striking out a career-high 11 batters, earning him South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week honors. His 11 strikeouts marked the first double-digit strikeout performance of his Minor League career.

Alvarez was selected in the 12^th round of the 2021 First-Year Player Draft out of California Polytechnic State University. He was signed by Nationals scout Bryan Byrne.

Lipscomb, 23, increased his fielding percentage at second base and third base from .929 in 2022 to .981 in 2023 - committing just eight errors this season. He appeared at shortstop for the first time in his professional career and did not make an error in 39 chances. At third base, he recorded four defensive run saved, according to Baseball Info Solutions.

From June 4 to July 8, he cleanly fielded 89 straight attempts for a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage and recorded a career-high 10 assists at Double-A Erie (DET) on June 13. On the season, he appeared at every infield position over 129 games between High-A Wilmington and Double-A Harrisburg.

At the plate, Lipscomb collected 139 hits, including 29 doubles, two triples and 14 home runs. He recorded 72 RBI, scored 59 runs and stole 10 bases. Lipscomb led Washington’s system in hits (139) and doubles (29), and ranked in batting average (4^th, .272), home runs (4^th, 14) and RBI (4^th, 72).

The Frederick, Md., native earned two Player of the Week honors during the 2023 season. For the week of June 5, Lipscomb won South Atlantic League Player of the Week after he went 12-for-28 (.429) with five doubles, a homer, seven RBI, two walks and seven runs scored across six games. He earned his second Player of the Week honors for the week of August 7, when he averaged .593 (16-for-27) with two doubles, a triple, two home runs and 10 RBI while with Double-A Harrisburg.

Lipscomb is currently rated by MLBPipeline.com as the No. 14 prospect in Washington’s Minor League system and the No. 15 prospect by Baseball America. Lipscomb was selected in the third round of the 2022 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Tennessee. He was signed by Nationals scout Brian Cleary.

Thomas, 23, ranked fifth in all of Minor League Baseball with 65 stolen bases, second among all Single-A players. His career-high 65 stolen bases were the most by a Nationals Minor Leaguer since the 2014 season (HAG’s Rafael Bautista; 69 SB). He was one of five players in all of Minor League Baseball to record at least 65 stolen bases and at least 60 runs scored.

The outfielder’s four stolen bases on September 7 at Single-A Delmarva (BAL) were tied for the most in a single game for any Minor Leaguer in Washington’s system in 2023 and marked one of 15 multi-stolen base games. He was a perfect 11-for-11 on the base paths from July 6-23.

Thomas was selected in the 19^th round of the 2022 First-Year Player Draft out of Texas Southern University. He was signed by Nationals scout Kevin Ham.

Young, 24, receives the award given to the Nationals Minor Leaguer who best demonstrates the professionalism, leadership, loyalty, passion, selflessness, durability, determination and work ethic required to play the game the “Washington Nationals Way.”

The right-handed hitter ranked in Washington’s Minor League system in average (2^nd, .305), on-base percentage (2^nd, .376), hits (2^nd, 132) and stolen bases (2^nd, 39). Young averaged .305 with 21 doubles, five triples, six homers, 58 RBI, 42 walks, 39 stolen bases and 60 runs scored across 112 games between High-A Wilmington, Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Rochester. Young went on to make his Major League debut on August 26 at Miami

The Nationals 2022 Baserunner of the Year and the “Fastest Baserunner” in Washington’s system according to _Baseball America_, Young posted a 16-game hitting streak from August 2-22, the longest hitting streak of his career. He hit .356 (26-for-73) with seven doubles, two triples, seven RBI, six walks, eight stolen bases and 12 runs scored over that span.

Young was selected in the seventh round of the 2021 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Florida. He was signed by Nationals scout Tommy Jackson.

Year Winners

2023 OF James Wood (Hitter of the Year), LHP Andrew Alvarez (Pitcher of the Year), INF Trey Lipscomb (Defensive Player of the Year), OF Johnathon Thomas (Baserunner of the Year), OF Jacob Young (Nationals Way)

2022 OF Jeremy De La Rosa and OF James Wood (co-Hitter of the Year), RHP Cade Cavalli (Pitcher of the Year), Jordy Barley (Defensive Player of the Year), Jacob Young (Baserunner of the Year), Jake Alu (Nationals Way)

2021 INF/OF Jake Noll (Player of the Year), RHP Cade Cavalli (Pitcher of the Year), OF Donovan Casey (Defensive Player of the Year), INF Jordy Barley (Baserunner of the Year), INF/OF Jack Dunn (Nationals Way)

2020 No awards due to the cancellation of the Minor League Season

2019 OF Yadiel Hernandez (Player of the Year), LHP Tim Cate (Pitcher of the Year), INF Luis García (Defensive Player of the Year), INF/OF Cole Freeman (Baserunner of the Year), C Jakson Reetz (Boone)

2018 INF Carter Kieboom (Player of the Year), LHP Ben Braymer/RHP Wil Crowe (co-Pitcher of the Year), INF Jake Noll (Boone)

2017 OF Daniel Johnson (Player of the Year), RHP Wander Suero (Pitcher of the Year), C Raudy Read (Boone)

2016 1B Jose Marmolejos (Player of the Year), RHP Reynaldo Lopez (Pitcher of the Year), OF Rafael Bautista (Boone)

2015 1B Jose Marmolejos (Player of the Year), RHP Austin Voth (Pitcher of the Year), RHP Austen Williams (Boone)

2014 OF Steven Souza Jr. (Player of the Year), RHP Lucas Giolito (Pitcher of the Year), INF Wilmer Difo (Boone)

2013 OF Billy Burns (Player of the Year), RHP Taylor Jordan (Pitcher of the Year), 2B Tony Renda (Boone)

2012 INF Matthew Skole (Player of the Year), RHP Nathan Karns (Pitcher of the Year)

2011 INF Steve Lombardozzi (Player of the Year), RHP Brad Peacock (Pitcher of the Year)

2010 OF Tyler Moore (Player of the Year), LHP Tom Milone (Pitcher of the Year)

2009 C Derek Norris (Player of the Year), RHP Brad Meyers (Pitcher of the Year)

2008 OF Leonard Davis (Player of the Year), RHP Jordan Zimmermann (Pitcher of the Year)

2007 OF Justin Maxwell (Player of the Year), LHP John Lannan (Pitcher of the Year)

2006 INF Kory Casto (Player of the Year), RHP Zechry Zinicola (Pitcher of the Year)

2005 INF Kory Casto (Player of the Year), LHP Michael O'Connor (Pitcher of the Year)