Nationals Opinions: Best Left Fielder in Nats History
Oct 6, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; Washington Nationals left fielder Bryce Harper (34) leaps to catch a fly ball hit by San Francisco Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford (35) during the second inning in game three of the 2014 NLDS baseball playoff game at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Spring baseball has officially begun, which means fans are already looking forward to the 2015 season, and, hopefully, the 2015 postseason. But while most fans are looking forward, District on Deck is also taking a chance to look back. After all, 2015 marks the 10-year anniversary of the franchise’s move to Washington, D.C., and what better way to celebrate than by fondly remembering some of the best players to spend time in a Nats uniform?
So far, we’ve covered the shortstops and catchers. Today, we’ll be continuing our rankings with left field.
Since it is a part of the outfield, which tends to be a carousel of players, there are plenty of players for consideration. In fact, over the ten years that the Nationals have played since moving from Montreal, eight different players have led the team in starts in left field. In other words, only two players have started the most games at left field more than one season in the past decade. Ranging from journeymen like Marlon Byrd and Josh Willingham to young players full of potential like Bryce Harper and Ryan Church, the Nationals list of left fielders has a little bit of something for everyone.
But how do all of these players stack up when compared to each other? Who is the true king of left field when it comes to the Nationals? In this slideshow, I’ll give you my list of the top five. Read along, and feel free to join in with your opinion!
Next: Number 5
WASHINGTON – SEPTEMBER 24: Willie Harris #22 of the Washington Nationals slides into home plate for an inside the park home run in the seventh inning against the Atlanta Braves at Nationals Park on September 24, 2010 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
No. 5: Willie Harris
If you’re looking for a prime example of a journeyman, look no further than the number five player on our list. Over the course of his twelve seasons in the majors, Willie Harris spent time with six teams (Orioles, White Sox, Red Sox, Braves, Mets, Reds) other than the Nationals.
Harris also spent time all around the field for the Nationals. In addition to left field, where he played over 900 innings, Harris also played at second, third, shortstop, right field, and center field. If they had asked him to play catcher, I don’t doubt that Harris would have buckled on the pads.
Most likely Harris’ biggest asset was actually his fielding. According to his defensive scores at FanGraphs, Harris posted positive UZR scores at left field in all three seasons he spent with the Nationals. More than once Harris managed spectacularly athletic catches in the outfield.
Where Harris loses a few points (and what keeps him from being higher on our list) is performance at the plate. While he usually managed to walk enough to keep his on-base numbers decent, Harris only managed to hit over .250 once with the Nats, and his OPS numbers were average at best. He never particularly excelled at stealing bases either, though he did manage 20 homers total from 2008 through 2010.
While his prowess in the outfield and ability to play multiple positions were certainly huge boons to the Nationals defense, Willie Harris only makes it to number five on our list of top five Nationals left fielders.
Next: Number 4
Josh Willingham #16 of the Washington Nationals is congratulated by Anderson Hernandez #6 after hitting a home run in the seventh inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Nationals Park on April 16, 2009 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
No. 4: Josh Willingham
Our number four player on our list, Josh Willingham, who spent the 2009 and 2010 seasons with the Nationals, is another example of a journeyman, though less so than Harris. Willingham has also logged time with the Marlins, the Twins, the Athletics, and the Royals.
Originally drafted in the 17th round of the 2000 draft by the Marlins, Willingham was traded to the Nationals in a deal involving Scott Olsen, Emilio Bonifacio, Jake Smolinski, and P.J. Dean after the conclusion of the 2008 season. Through a combination of injuries and the move of Adam Dunn to first base, Willingham quickly became a starter.
During his time with the Nationals, Willingham accumulated 40 home runs, 117 RBI, and an OPS of .856 while playing 195 games in left field. On July 27, 2009, he also became the 13th player in Major League history to hit two grand slams in the same game, a feat made even more impressive by the fact that he did it in back-to-back innings.
Willingham was just average in the field, though he did still manage to accumulate a WAR of 5.0 in just two seasons. In the December following the 2010 season, he would be traded to the Athletics for a pitcher and another outfielder. Though Willingham was never part of a Nationals team that won an NL East title, Willingham certainly contributed enough on the field to land him at number four on the list of Nationals left fielders.
Next: Number 3
Washington Nationals’ Ryan Church rounds third base as he scores on a Nick Johnson double in the third inning against the Florida Marlins Sunday, July 31, 2005, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
No. 3: Ryan Church
The Nationals still made their home north of the border when Ryan Church, who was 25 years old at the time, received his call up to join the Montreal Expos. Over the last two months of the year, Church would perform rather poorly. He batted a meager .175 with an OPS of .495. He had one home run and one double in 71 at-bats, bad enough to earn an OPS+ of a 28 for the 30 games he played in. It was not the debut that you’d expect for the player who’s our number three left fielder in Nationals history.
The next two seasons didn’t go quite as planned, either. Church struggled in the start to the 2005 season. He would eventually get hot before a Bryce Harper-esque collision with the wall at PNC Park and a couple of stints on the DL derailed Church’s shot at Rookie of the Year honors.
It wasn’t until the very end of 2006 that Church finally appeared ready for the show. After returning from the disabled list, Church lit up opposing pitchers. He ended the year with a .276 average and an OPS of .891 with 10 homers.
Church’s final season with the Nationals was also a solid one, with him hitting for a line of .272/.349/.464 with 15 homers over 144 games. It was, one might say, just good enough to get him traded. In November of 2007, Church was dealt to the Mets.
Though Church’s defense was likely some of the best of the players on our list, he gets knocked down a couple of pegs for the fact that he never really managed to consistently produce at a high level. Had he managed to succeed at that, it likely could have vaulted him up another two spots. As it is, though, Church lands at number three.
Next: Number 2
Photo courtesy of Jamie Squire/Getty Images.
No. 2: Alfonso Soriano
If our number two player on this list had his way, he wouldn’t have even been eligible for the list because he never would have set foot in left field. Unfortunately for him – and fortunately for Nationals fans – Alfonso Soriano eventually consented to his move to the outfield, and one of the biggest offensive seasons in the 10 years of the team happened.
By the time he arrived in DC in December of 2005, after the Nats had just completed the first season of the post-Montreal era, Soriano was already well known. He had already spent six seasons, from 1998 to 2003, playing second base for the New York Yankees. He was then the key piece in the trade that brought A-Rod to the Big Apple when he was sent to Texas, where he spent two seasons before being traded to the Nationals.
Though he initially balked at the idea of playing left field, Soriano turned out to be decent at the position. At second base, he was prone to losing concentration and booting routine ground balls, but his defensive numbers in left actually turned out decent. In his single season with the Nats, Soriano posted a UZR/150 of 5.4.
But where Soriano really excelled was at the plate. In 728 plate appearances, Soriano drove in 95 runs with 46 homers and an OPS of .911. He also matched Josh Willingham’s WAR of 5.0 in a single year. Soriano, always the speedster, also managed to steal 41 bases that year.
While he could have easily made the top spot on our list of top left fielders for the Nationals, the fact that Soriano only spent one season in Washington lands him one spot short.
Next: Number 1
Jul 1, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals left fielder Bryce Harper (34) runs to first base after hitting a single during the fourth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
No. 1: Bryce Harper
There’s certainly plenty of reasons to argue against putting Bryce Harper here. He’s missed plenty of time with injuries, and the potential that he’s been burdened with has yet to be lived up to. That being said, he’s still more qualified than the rest of the Nationals top left fielders.
Willie Harris never posted solid offensive numbers. Josh Willingham was respectable, but never put up particularly flash numbers. Soriano bolted from DC at the first chance he got. And Church was such a disappointment at one point in 2006 that he was relegated to the minors. Say what you will about Harper and his potential, but he’s never been sent down for performance issues.
The fact is, when you really look at the numbers, Harper is the best left fielder that the Nationals have had. Over the 357 games that he’s played (most of which have been in left), Harper has accumulated 9.5 wins above replacement and hit 55 homers, both of which are most of anyone on our list. His career slash line is .272/.351/.465, and he’s posted an OPS+ over 100 every season that he’s been in the majors.
Oh yeah; he’s also only 22.
While I understand the sentiments that Harper has yet to “live up to potential” and that he’s a touch on the injury-prone side (even if he claims he isn’t), but his shortcomings aren’t enough to erase what he’s managed to do on the field. If you take away the names and simply look at the numbers, it’s clear enough that Harper has done enough to rank about the rest of those who have manned left field for the Nationals.