WOODBRIDGE, Va.- The Potomac Nationals announced today that outfielder
Michael Burgess and infielder Stephen King have been promoted to Potomac
from Low-A Hagerstown. In addition, Brian Finegan has been traded to the
Philadelphia Phillies and pitcher Alex Morales has been placed on the
temporarily inactive list.Burgess hit .249 with the Suns this year and led the club in hits (100), doubles (26), home runs (18), RBI (60), and walks (46). The 19-year-old was selected as a South Atlantic League All-Star and won the Home Run Derby contest outlasting Mike Stanton of the Greensboro Grasshoppers. The left-handed slugger played primarily right field with Hagerstown and is expected to join the P-Nats outfield.
Rated as the number four prospect in the Washington Nationals organization by Baseball America, Burgess was drafted out of high school as the 49th overall pick in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft. He attended Hillsborough (FL) High School, which also produced major leaguers Dwight Gooden, Gary Sheffield, and Elijah Dukes.
The Florida-native is in just his second season of professional baseball after making his debut in 2007 with the Gulf Coast League Nationals and Short-Season Vermont. Burgess batted a combined .318 with 11 home runs and 42 RBI and garnered GCL Player of the Month honors for both July and August/September.
King, drafted out of Winter Park (FL) High in the third round of the 2006, draft was hitting .284 with six home runs and 33 RBI with Hagerstown at the time of his promotion. Considered the 16th-best prospect in the Washington Nationals organization by Baseball America, King played shortstop in 2007 but transitioned to third base in 2008.
The 20-year-old began his professional career with the Suns in 2007 batting .180 in 35 games before being sent down to the GCL Nationals where he posted a .248 average with nine homers and 30 RBI. Both King and Burgess have never played above Low-A during their young careers.
Finegan hit .221 with two home runs and 13 RBI with Potomac prior to his trade. Philadelphia will be the fourth different organization Finegan has played for in 2008 after spending time with the Cleveland Indians, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Washington Nationals.
Morales' placement on the temporarily inactive list comes after he has seen limited action over the past month. The right-hander has pitched just three innings since July 11 and has surrendered six runs on five hits including two home runs in those frames. Morales owns an 11.57 ERA in seven appearances with Potomac and has been battling right elbow issues all season.
Potomac continues to carry 25 members on its active roster with 12 pitchers and 13 position players.
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