The Washington Nationals selected the contracts of outfielder Rafael Bautista, first baseman Jose Marmolejos, catcher Raudy Read, infielder Matt Skole and right-handed pitcher Austin Voth on Friday, adding them to the team's 40-man roster. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.
Bautista, 23, hit .283 with 12 doubles, four triples, four home runs, 39 RBI, 56 stolen bases and 77 runs scored in 136 games for Double-A Harrisburg in 2016. He led the Eastern League in hits (153) while his 56 stolen bases were tied for the most in Minor League Baseball. Over the course of his five-year professional career, Bautista has collected 224 stolen bases in 267 attempts (84%). His 224 stolen bases rank fifth in Minor League Baseball since 2012.
For his 2016 efforts, Bautista was the recipient of the third-annual "Bob Boone Award" granted annually 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.' Following the season, he was cited by Baseball America as being the "Best Baserunner" and having the "Best Speed" in the Eastern League.
A native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Bautista was signed by the Nationals as a non-drafted free agent on January 3, 2012.
Marmolejos, 23, earned his second consecutive Nationals Minor League Player of the Year Award in 2016 after hitting .289 with 45 doubles, five triples, 13 home runs, 74 RBI, 64 walks and 87 runs scored in 136 games between Single-A Potomac and Double-A Harrisburg. He recorded a .370 on-base percentage and a .475 slugging percentage. His career-best 45 doubles tied for the second-most in all of Minor League Baseball. He also led the organization in runs scored (87) and total bases (240).
Marmolejos was promoted to Double-A Harrisburg on Aug. 1 and proceeded to hit .299 (38-for-127) with nine doubles, two homers, 15 RBI and 15 runs scored in 33 games at the advanced level, his first exposure to Double-A.
After going undrafted in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft, Marmolejos signed with the Nationals on June 9, 2011 following his graduation from South Broward High School in Miami, Fla.
Read, 23, set career marks in nearly every offensive category in 2016, hitting .250 with 30 doubles, one triple, nine home runs, 51 RBI, 31 walks, and 54 runs scored in 101 games for the Potomac Nationals. His 30 doubles ranked second on the club. Following the season, he was rated the "Best Defensive Catcher" in the Carolina League by Baseball America, throwing out 31 of 100 (31%) would-be base stealers.
A native of San Jose de Ocoa, Dominican Republic, Read signed as a non-drafted free agent on January 24, 2011.
Skole, 27, led Washington's Minor League system in home runs (24) and RBI (78) in 2016, hitting .244 with a .337 on-base percentage a .437 slugging percentage in 140 games for Triple-A Syracuse. He led the International League in games played (140) while ranking among hitters in RBI (2nd, 78), walks (T2nd, 66), home runs (3rd, 24) and runs scored (4th, 67).
A fifth-round selection in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft out of Georgia Tech, Skole earned a 2016 Rawlings Minor League Gold Glove Award at first base. Posting a .999 fielding percentage, Skole made only one error in 874 chances at first base this year. He also appeared in 41 games at third base, making just two errors in 100 chances.
Voth, 24, ranked third in the International League and third in Washington's system with a 3.15 ERA while going 7-9 in 27 games (25 starts) for Triple-A Syracuse in 2016. His 133 strikeouts were tied for the most among Nationals farmhands and tied for fifth in the International League. Voth also ranked among qualified International League pitchers in fewest hits per nine innings (1st, 7.91), fewest home runs per nine innings (3rd, 0.63), strikeouts per nine innings (3rd, 7.62) and walks/hits per innings pitched (5th, 1.24).
Washington's 2015 Minor League Pitcher of the Year, Voth was selected in the fifth round of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Washington.
With these additions, the Nationals now have 36 players on their 40-man roster.