Washington Nationals: Top 10 homegrown players 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.