Washington Nationals: Ian Desmond returns to DC

Ian Desmond spent seven years with the Washington Nationals. Now, he is preparing to play his first game against the franchise that drafted him.

After being drafted by the Montreal Expos in 2004, Ian Desmond became an integral member of the Washington Nationals.

Desmond spent five years in the minors before debuting in 2009, but immediately became a fan favorite in DC. He had two hits in his major league debut, including an RBI double and a home run. The next day, he turned in an incredible 4-for-4 performance.

After his hot start, Desmond never looked back. He went on to play seven seasons with the Nats, including an all-star selection, three consecutive Silver Slugger Awards, and four 20/20 seasons. Throughout his time with the Nats, Desmond slashed .264/.312/.424 with 110 homers and 122 stolen bases.

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In addition to being a terrific player on the field, Desmond was an even better man off of it.

Before every game, regardless of the venue, Desmond signed autographs for anybody who wanted one. While many of his teammates were relaxing in the clubhouse, he made sure that he left enough time to prepare for the game and then spend time with the fans. Whether someone wanted an autograph or just wanted to talk, Desmond was there.

Off the field, Desmond made an enormous difference in the community.

Desmond served on the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy’s advisory board and played a large role in getting the academy off the ground. Even since his days with the Nats came to an end, he has continued to visit the academy.

Since he left the Nats after the 2015 season, Desmond has played for the Texas Rangers and Colorado Rockies.

Desmond exclusively played shortstop with the Nats, but he has played left field, center field, first base, and one game at short with the Rangers and Rockies. His exceptional athleticism was evident during his time with the Nats, but has been on full display over the last few years.

Now, Desmond is preparing to play his first game against the franchise that drafted him.

The Rangers did not play the Nats in 2016 and Desmond was hurt when the Nats and Rockies faced off last year, so this will be his first time playing against Washington.

Last year, when the Rockies visited Nationals Park, the Nats played a tribute video on the scoreboard and Desmond got the enormous ovation he deserves. The Nats will likely play a similar video on Thursday night and the stadium will erupt when he comes up to bat for the first time.

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Desmond was an all-time great National, both on and off the field. It will certainly be weird to see him playing at Nationals Park as an opponent, but it will be great to have him back in Washington. There are very few players that fans continue to admire after they leave their original team, but he is one of those special few.