Washington Nationals: 5 storylines to watch as Nats conclude huge homestand

Ian Desmond’s return to DC

After spending the first seven years of his career playing for the Nats, Ian Desmond has since played one season for the Texas Rangers and has now joined the Rockies. Desmond was always a fan favorite in Washington and was a fantastic member of the Nationals, both on and off the field.

After playing shortstop for the Nats, Desmond became an outfielder in Texas. His athleticism allowed him to quickly become a very good defensive outfielder and he only made 12 errors, which was the best of his career.

Since signing with Colorado, the versatile Desmond has played both first base and left field, committing only three errors. He has also hit well, batting .285 with five homers in 65 games.

When the Rockies come to DC this weekend, it will be the first time Desmond has returned since he left after the 2015 season. It will also be the first time he has ever played against the Nats.

When the Nats and Rockies played each other in April, Desmond was still recovering from a broken hand, which was suffered late in Spring Training. Unfortunately, Desmond may also be unavailable for this series.

On Tuesday night in St. Louis, Desmond aggravated a calf injury that he suffered at the beginning of this month. He spent a couple weeks on the disabled list, but had since returned and was playing without any issues until Tuesday.

The Rockies had an off-day on Thursday, so he didn’t need to miss a game, but may not be healthy enough to play this weekend. It would be a shame if he is unable to play at Nationals Park because he should receive a well-deserved warm ovation.

Hopefully Desmond is healthy enough to play this weekend, and it will be interesting to see how he is received and how he performs in his return to Nationals Park.