Washington Nationals: Top 10 homegrown players in team history

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The Washington Nationals have put together a lengthy period of sustained success, led by homegrown players. We take a look at the top ten homegrown players in team history.

The Washington Nationals have only been in existence since 2005, but they have won the National League East four times. General Manager Mike Rizzo has built a team destined for sustained success, and they have largely been led by homegrown players.

From drafting Ryan Zimmerman with their first draft pick after returning to DC in 2005, to drafting Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper first overall in back-to-back drafts, the Nats have had several high-profile draft picks.

That’s not to say that the Nats have not benefitted from free agent signings and trades. To name a few, Max Scherzer, Jayson Werth, Gio Gonzalez, and Alfonso Soriano have played enormous roles over the years.

However, the homegrown talent has led the way. Currently, 23 of the 40 players on the Nats’ 40-man roster have been drafted and developed by the team. In today’s game, when players routinely change teams, this is exceptional.

One of the best ways to set yourself up for sustained success is to draft and develop well. The Nats have done this as well as any other team, enabling them to win the second-most regular season games in the MLB since 2012.

Homegrown talent is obviously an integral aspect of sustained success, so without further ado, let’s take a look at the top ten homegrown players in team history.

10. Koda Glover

An eighth-round draft pick in 2015, Koda Glover has ascended to the major leagues at a nearly unprecedented rate. Glover made his debut in 2016, just over a year after being drafted.

During his brief time with the Nats, Glover has proven to be a phenomenal reliever with endless potential. Despite being just 24 years old, he has already been a dominant closer. His only issue so far has been his inability to remain healthy.

When healthy, Glover utilizes a filthy repertoire consisting of a fastball, slider, curveball, and change-up. The slider is likely his best pitch, and it is borderline unfair. It sits in the mid-90’s and moves all the way across the plate, making it very difficult to hit and nearly impossible to square up.

If Glover finds a way to remain healthy, he has an incredibly bright future ahead of him. Only a handful of players from his draft class have even reached the majors, let alone make a significant impact.

The fact that he is already among the top ten homegrown players in team history, despite only having a couple injury-riddled seasons under his belt, speaks to what he has already accomplished and the potential he has shown.

If Glover is able to remain healthy, the Nats will have an elite reliever for years to come.

9. Craig Stammen

Despite being drafted as a starting pitcher in the 12th round in 2005, Craig Stammen made his biggest impact as a reliever. He spent his first two seasons in the majors as a starter, but was converted to bullpen duties in 2010.

Stammen’s first full-season as a reliever was 2011, and he played an enormous role in the Nats’ bullpen through 2015. He pitched to a 2.79 ERA throughout his five seasons as a Nats reliever, making him extremely reliable.

In addition to reliability, Stammen also offered durability and endurance. As a former starter, he was able to pitch more than a typical reliever. Because of this, he pitched in various roles, ranging from long man to setup man, and even recorded a save along the way.

Unfortunately, Stammen’s tenure with the Nats ended on a sour note, as he suffered a season-ending injury in April of 2015. Prior to that, he had never been placed on the disabled list.

Stammen battled injuries again in 2016, but is now back on his feet. He had a phenomenal 2017 season with the Padres, pitching to a 3.14 ERA in 80.1 innings.

Now, the Nats have a need for a reliever or two and Stammen is a free agent. With the Nats lacking a true long reliever, a reunion is very possible.

8. Drew Storen

The 2009 draft was a terrific one for the Nats, as they had two picks in the top ten. While their selection with the tenth pick did not pan out quite as well as the first, it was still a solid pick. With the tenth overall pick in the 2009 draft, the Nats selected Drew Storen.

Like Glover, Storen ascended through the minor leagues quickly, and reached the majors just a year after being drafted. As a rookie in 2010, Storen pitched to a 3.58 ERA in 54 games, and even recorded five saves.

Storen remained with the Nats through 2015, and pitched well the whole time, but lost his job as closer several times. After his ninth inning implosion in game five of the 2012 National League Division Series, the Nats signed Rafael Soriano to be the closer, despite Storen pitching to a 2.37 ERA in the regular season.

Then, Storen regained the closer’s role, but lost it to Jonathan Papelbon in 2015. Storen was having a phenomenal season, but the rest of the bullpen was struggling, leading to the Nats trading for Papelbon and demoting Storen to a setup role.

Overall, Storen was a solid reliever for the Nats, pitching to a 3.02 ERA and converting 95 saves in six seasons. However, he is largely remembered for blowing the save in game five of the 2012 NLDS. This is unfair to a pitcher who gave his all to the team despite not being treated very well.

Most fans will not agree, but Drew Storen is the eighth-best homegrown player in team history.

7. Chad Cordero

Drafted in the first round by the Montreal Expos in 2003, Chad Cordero was one of the lone bright spots on the early Nationals teams. Known as “The Chief”, Cordero was arguably the best reliever in the MLB in 2005.

In 2005, the team’s first year back in DC, Cordero pitched to a 1.82 ERA in 74 games, while converting 47 of 54 save opportunities. His incredible season led to him leading the MLB in saves, being named an All-Star, and being named the National League’s Reliever of the Year.

Cordero went on to pitch for the Nats through 2008, but injuries eventually derailed his career. If it were not for all of the injuries, he likely would have gone on to become one of the top relievers in the league for years to come.

Even with the injuries, Cordero had a spectacular, albeit brief, career. He still holds the team record for saves, with 113.

Perhaps it was the cause of his injuries, but Cordero pitched an astonishing amount. From 2005-2007, he pitched in 221 games, averaging 74 games per season. It was partially due to the fact that the Nats did not have many other reliable relievers, but his heavy workload, even as the closer, shows that he was willing to do whatever it took to make the Nats competitive.

For Cordero’s fantastic performances on the early Nats teams, he is the seventh-best homegrown player in team history.

6. Ian Desmond

Like Cordero, Ian Desmond was drafted by the Montreal Expos. Desmond was drafted in the third round of the 2004 draft, but took much longer to reach the majors, due to the fact that he was drafted out of high school.

Desmond debuted in 2009, and immediately excelled, batting .280 in 21 games as a September call-up. From there, he went on to become a team leader and one of the best players to ever don the curly W.

In seven seasons with the Nats, Desmond owned a slash line of .264/.312/.424 to go with 110 homers and 122 stolen bases. One of the things he became known for was his three consecutive 20/20 seasons (20 home runs and 20 stolen bases). He was worth 17.4 wins above replacement players, according to FanGraphs.

Desmond was also a very decorated player during his tenure with the Nats. In addition to leading the Nats to two division titles, he was named an All-Star in 2012 and won three consecutive Silver Slugger Awards from 2012-2014.

Finally, Desmond was a fantastic member of the DC community. He did lots of charity work, mostly through the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy. He served as a member of the academy’s board of directors, and played a key role in its establishment.

Now with the Colorado Rockies, Desmond is still beloved among the Nats’ fanbase. He was injured when he returned to Nationals Park in 2017, but still received a warm ovation and a video tribute on the scoreboard.

Ian Desmond may no longer be with the Nats, but he is still beloved, and he is the sixth best homegrown player in team history.

5. Jordan Zimmermann

A second-round pick in 2007, the Nats always had big plans for Jordan Zimmermann. They were put on hold when he was forced to undergo Tommy John Surgery shortly after debuting in 2009, but he still had an extremely successful tenure with the Nats.

In Zimmermann’s seven seasons with the Nats, he pitched to a 3.32 ERA and was a mainstay near the front of the starting rotation. His tremendous Nats tenure included being a two-time All-Star, leading the National League in wins, and pitching a no-hitter.

Zimmermann was also a workhorse for the Nats, as the fewest innings he threw after recovering from Tommy John Surgery was 195.2. He rarely got the attention he deserved, while pitching among the likes of Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, and Gio Gonzalez, but he was arguably the most consistent out of all of them.

Although Zimmermann departed in free agency to move closer to his home in Wisconsin, we may not have seen the last of his days donning the curly W. He has struggled during his time with the Tigers, and there have been rumors that they will attempt to trade him as part of their rebuild.

Considering the Nats’ need for a starting pitcher, they have been connected to him in trade rumors. A reunion certainly makes sense, and is completely possible.

However, even if Zimmermann never throws another pitch for the Nats, he is the fifth-best homegrown player in team history.

4. Anthony Rendon

After being drafted sixth overall in the 2011 draft, Anthony Rendon quickly proved why he was worth the first round pick. In his first full season in the majors, 2014, he batted .287 with 21 homers and 39 doubles.

Rendon has not looked back from there, owning a career slash line of .280/.358/.454 to go with his 78 homers and 157 doubles. While he does have good home run power, he has better gap-to-gap power, which enables him to excel at hitting doubles, earning him the nickname, “Tony Two Bags”.

In addition to his offensive prowess, Rendon is also a gold glove-caliber defender at third base. He has yet to win a Gold Glove Award, due to Nolan Arenado‘s defensive wizardry, but Rendon consistently places near the top of the league in defensive metrics.

Finally, sabermetrics love Rendon. In 2017, the best season of his career so far, he had a league-leading WAR of 6.9, according to FanGraphs. While this was a terrific season, he may still be improving. He is still just 27 years old, and likely has not yet reached his peak.

Rendon can truly do it all on a baseball field, and is a fan favorite, which leads to him being the fourth-best homegrown player in team history.

3. Stephen Strasburg

After being one of the most hyped college pitchers ever, Stephen Strasburg was drafted first overall in the 2009 draft. While it certainly has not been easy or uneventful, he has lived up to the hype.

Strasburg burst onto the scene in his MLB debut in 2010, striking out 14 batters. Unfortunately, he tore his UCL and required Tommy John Surgery after just 12 starts, which ended his 2010 season and forced him to miss most of 2011 as well.

After returning from Tommy John Surgery, Strasburg picked up right where he left off, leading the Nats to their first division title in 2012. However, the Nats placed an innings limit on him, and stuck to it despite making the playoffs. This was an extremely controversial decision, but it has paid off in the long run.

Throughout Strasburg’s eight-year career, he has pitched to a 3.07 ERA in 1100 innings. He has also been improving.

2017 was the best season of Strasburg’s career so far, as he pitched to a 2.52 ERA and finished third in NL Cy Young voting. There were also several memorable stretches that proved Strasburg was worth being selected first overall.

Between August and September, Strasburg threw an amazing 35 consecutive scoreless innings. Incredibly enough, this was just a preview of what was to come in the postseason. In two starts against the Chicago Cubs in the National League Division Series, Strasburg did not allow an earned run and struck out 22 in 14 innings.

Due to various injuries and the shutdown, Strasburg’s career has been extremely frustrating at times, but he has also been a phenomenal pitcher. Because of this, he is the third-best homegrown player in team history.

2. Bryce Harper

Since gracing the cover of Sports Illustrated as a 16-year-old, Bryce Harper has constantly been in the spotlight. Not long after being named “Baseball’s Chosen One” on the Sports Illustrated cover, Harper was selected first overall in the 2010 draft.

The expectations have always been unachievable, yet Harper has almost achieved them. He debuted as a 19-year-old in 2012, and hit .270 with 22 homers in a partial season as a teenager.

Harper has not looked back since then, being named an All-Star in every season that he was healthy for the Midsummer Classic. Even his one poor season was solid. He played through various injuries in 2016, which led to some struggles. Despite “struggling”, he hit .243 with 24 homers.

The best season of Harper’s career so far was 2015, when he had one of the best individual seasons of all-time. In 153 games, he owned a slash line of .330/.460/.649 to go with his 42 homers and 124 walks.

Despite the Nats not making the playoffs in 2015, Harper was named the unanimous National League MVP. According to FanGraphs, he was worth an incredible 9.5 wins above a replacement player. For reference, Giancarlo Stanton was worth just 6.9 wins above a replacement player in his fantastic MVP season in 2017.

Unfortunately, we may not see Harper donning the curly W for too much longer. His contract expires at the end of the 2018 season, and he will reportedly command $400-500 million in his next contract. If this is the case, the Nats may not be able to afford him, and he would wind up playing elsewhere in 2019.

Regardless of what happens after 2018, Harper has had an amazing career with the Nats so far, and is the second-best homegrown player in team history.

1. Ryan Zimmerman

Isn’t it fitting that we conclude with “Mr. Walk-off”? The Nats drafted Ryan Zimmerman with their first pick after returning to DC, and they could not have selected a better player and person to build the team around.

Despite being drafted in 2005, he debuted that year and immediately excelled. In 20 games as a September call-up, Zimmerman hit .397 with ten doubles.

In Zimmerman’s first full season in the majors, 2006, he owned a slash line of .287/.351/.471 to go with his 20 homers, 110 RBI’s, and 47 doubles. The Nats struggled mightily as a team, but Zimmerman was one of the few bright spots.

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In addition to his offensive prowess, Zimmerman was among the best defensive third basemen in the league. Unfortunately, several arm injuries would eventually force him to move to first base, but he is a solid defender across the diamond as well.

Throughout Zimmerman’s 13-year career, he has a batting average of .280 with 251 homers. He has always been a streaky hitter, but he has great overall stats.

Unfortunately, Zimmerman has been exceptionally injury-prone throughout his career. Because of this, he has missed some time and struggled when playing through injuries or recovering. The injuries led to a few disappointing seasons in 2015 and 2016, but he was finally healthy in 2017.

Because he remained healthy, 2017 was one of the best seasons of Zimmerman’s career so far. In 144 games, he hit .303 with 36 homers and 108 RBI’s. He was also an All-Star starter and was named the National League Comeback Player of the Year.

At 33 years old, Zimmerman has already set several team records. A few of the records he holds are games played (1552), runs scored (883), hits (1664), total bases (2828), doubles (371), homers (251), and RBI’s (937). He also holds several others, and should break some more throughout the remainder of his career.

Finally, Zimmerman has shown tremendous loyalty to the Nats. In today’s game, players routinely change teams and play for the highest bidder. However, Zimmerman has spent his entire career with the Nats, making him an extreme outlier.

A Virginia native, Zimmerman has fit in perfectly with the DC community and Nats fanbase, contributing to him being a fan favorite. He has long been a team leader and face of the franchise, and should continue to be through the end of his playing days.

Ryan Zimmerman has earned several nicknames throughout his 13-year career, with one being “Mr. National”. This nickname could not be more fitting, as he is the best homegrown player in team history.

Next: Nats could make blockbuster trade with Rays

For now, that’s our top ten homegrown players in team history. However, with several of them still playing for the Nats and a few highly-touted prospects in the minors, this list could change in a few years. Stay tuned!

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