FredNats Stadium Picked As Alternate Site for Nationals Training

FREDERICKSBURG, VA — The Washington Nationals picked the Fredericksburg Nationals' new ballpark in Fredericksburg as the alternate site for its players to train and practice, the team announced this week.

The stadium is far from finished, but team officials said the new ballpark will provide first-class clubhouse and training facilities for the Nationals’ player pool, who are the additional Nationals players beyond the players assigned to Nationals Park. The FredNats began construction of their ballpark last summer.

The Washington Nationals are able to use the FredNats field because baseball's minor league season has been canceled due to the coronavirus crisis.

Art Silber, chairman of the FredNats, said he is disappointed that no minor league games will be played in the new ballpark this season. But he expressed excitement in hosting the Nationals’ additional players who will get to break in the new facility.

"There is tremendous pride and excitement in Fredericksburg about the opening of our new ballpark, our relationship with the World Champion Nationals, and now serving as a venue for the Nationals to train in Fredericksburg," Silber said in a statement.

The Washington Nationals are currently practicing and training at Nationals Park in Washington for their 60-man roster for the start of 2020 Major League Season. The players will be training at Nationals Park leading up to an opening day game scheduled for July 23 or 24.

On Monday, the team canceled workouts because players and staff hadn't received coronavirus test results yet. The team was back on the field Tuesday after getting test results from the previous Friday. The Nationals played their first intrasquad simulated game Wednesday, and each coach and staff member had his face covered.

“The FredNats have built a wonderful new ballpark, which will host our affiliate in the future," Mark Scialabba, Nationals' assistant general manager for player development, said in a statement. "It will serve as an outstanding facility to help our players continue their development and prepare them to potentially join our Major League Club.”

On Tuesday, the Nationals started practices and training in Fredericksburg. All practices and baseball-related activities by the Nationals in Fredericksburg are closed to the public and media consistent with MLB guidance to ensure the health and safety of the players.

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