With a little bit of downtime before the Washington Nationals resume their 2025 season, fans of the team have now had a couple of days to reflect on a few changes around the organization. After firing longtime GM Mike Rizzo and manager Dave Martinez, the team then had one of their most pivotal MLB Drafts in a very long time, which began with the selection of Eli Willits with the 1st overall pick.
But now that the dust has settled on both of those fronts, with fans waiting for announcements of top draft picks to be signed and for the Nationals to kick off the second half with a home series against the San Diego Padres, Mike Rizzo chose to close the chapter on his tenure with the team.
Before the Home Run Derby on Monday night, the former GM for the better part of two decades put out a heartfelt thank you message to Nationals faithful, and capped it off with an awesome final gesture as a token of his gratitude. Of course, the Derby featured current Nationals superstar James Wood, and while he did not advance past the first round, he certainly gave fans a treat to enjoy in what has been a brutal season for the franchise.
Rizzo's message included him saying it had been an honor to serve as the President and General Manager of the Washington Nationals, and thanked every fan who had supported him along the way. Him and his family will remain committed to the District of Columbia through the Rizzo Family Foundation no matter where his next endeavor takes him, which supports children and families in the DC community who need help the most.
Recently fired Nationals GM Mike Rizzo is covering beers for Nats fans at two separate DC bars for Monday night’s Home Run Derby pic.twitter.com/igvy5yrpMt
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) July 11, 2025
As his token of gratitude for the fans, Rizzo encouraged fans to grab a "Round on Riz" on Monday before the Derby, as he covered the cost for fans to attend and grab free drinks from 5PM-7PM at Penn Quarter Sports Tavern or Walter's Sports Bar in DC to watch Wood swing for the fences. Many Nationals fans made their way to the sites to indulge in the token of gratitude from the former GM, and this final gesture really shows the kind of man Rizzo was during his entire tenure.
While the ending may have not resulted in the way that anyone wanted nor anticipated, Rizzo and his family spent 19 years with the organization, and of course, he was the ultimate mastermind behind the 2019 World Series Championship winning team. From the bottom of my heart as a lifelong Nationals fan, thank you for everything, Mike, and cheers to you on whatever life throws your way in your next chapter!
Did you grab a "Round on Riz" before the Derby? As always, please let me know on X, @DCBerk.