Victor Robles and Taylor Gushue Named Carolina League Year-End All-Stars

Woodbridge, VA---Earlier today, the Carolina League announced that both CF Victor Robles  and C Taylor Gushue  have been named Carolina League year-end All-Stars. Both Robles and Gushue earned mid-season All-Star accolades as well.

The 20-year-old Robles spent just over half of the 2017 season with the P-Nats, after he played in 41 games for The Red, White & Blue in 2016. The top prospect in the Nationals' system according to both MLB Pipeline and Baseball America, Robles picked up where he left off last season and increased his offensive production as his time with the P-Nats went on. Already an elite level defender, Robles' offense proved to be the biggest jumping point for the young outfielder in 2017. In 77 games for the P-Nats this season, Robles hit seven home runs, drove in 33, and tallied 39 extra-base hits. With a batting average of .289 and an OBP of .377, Robles earned his first career call up to Double-A Harrisburg, where he currently plays for the Senators.
With the Senators so far this season, Robles has hit .323 with 14 extra-base hits in 32 games. At the point of this announcement, the Dominican Republic native is in the midst of a 16-game hit streak. Over the streak, Robles has a .403 batting average and an OPS of 1.060, with nearly as many walks as strikeouts. Primed for a potential Major League debut in 2018, this is the fourth All-Star selection for Robles in the past three years at either the midway point of the season or with end of the year recognition. Robles is currently the #5 prospect in all of Minor League Baseball, and with three of the four players ahead of him already in the Majors, he has a chance at entering the 2018 season as the top prospect in Minor League Baseball.
Like Robles, Gushue was also part of the 2017 Carolina League mid-season All-Star team. A torrid start offensively propelled the catcher to the top of the Carolina League home run rankings in the first month of the season, where he has been among the top five nearly all year long. With 12 home runs in his first 28 starts of the season, and now 18 home runs, second most in the league at the point of this recognition, the first year in the Washington system has to be looked at as a huge success for Gushue. The 23^rd ranked prospect in the Nationals' system according to MLB Pipeline will likely get his first career look at the Double-A level in 2018.
Per the attached release from the Carolina League, Frederick's Ademar Rifaela has been named the Carolina League MVP, Lynchburg's Triston McKenzie earned Pitcher of the Year honors, while Lynchburg manager Tony Mansolino has been named the Manager of the year.
The Potomac Nationals of the Carolina League play at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge, Virginia, and are the Carolina League affiliate of the Washington Nationals. The Potomac Nationals have claimed five Carolina League Championship titles (1982, 1989, 2008, 2010, and 2014) and nine CL Northern Division Championships. Sponsorship opportunities for the P-Nats' 2017 season and beyond are available, as well as all-inclusive corporate outings to watch the future stars of the Washington Nationals at The Pfitz. For more information on Potomac Nationals 2017 single game tickets, season tickets, mini plans, group outings, and picnic packages, visit the P-Nats online at www.potomacnationals.com or call the Potomac Nationals' Extreme Custom Collision Ticket Office at 703-590-2311.

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