Washington Nationals: Where are they now?

IAN DESMOND

If there were a “Mount Rushmore” of Washington Nationals players, one would think Ian Desmond deserves a spot. “Desi” is a homegrown National who was drafted by the Montreal Expos in 2004.  In his time as a National (2009-2015), Desmond amassed three consecutive silver slugger awards (2012-2014) and one all-star appearance.

Desmond showed exceptional durability for the Nats.  From 2010-2015, he finished no worse than second in games played among shortstops.

Off the field, Desmond was a major voice for and a board member of the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy.  He also frequented trips to the Nationals’ minor league clubhouses.  He did this on his own time to be with the prospects in the farm system.

In 2016, Desmond signed a one-year deal with the Texas Rangers.  That season, Desmond collected the fourth “20-20 season” of his career, slugging 22 home runs and swiping 21 bases.  He was named as an American League all-star reserve for his first-half efforts.

The following season, Desmond signed with the Colorado Rockies.  Limited by multiple injuries, Desmond only started 88 games and posted a .375 slugging percentage, the second-worst mark of his career (2011).

In Colorado’s lone postseason game in 2017, Desmond singled and scored a run in the Rockies’ loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks.