Here are my 24 favorite Washington Nationals of all time as I get to 24 years of age.
Today is my birthday! In honor of that, I wanted to write about some of my favorite Nationals players of all time. The team has been a huge part of my life and these players have been part of my journey. Here is the list.
- Max Scherzer
Max Scherzer is unquestionably my favorite National of all time. His competitive fire and psycho level competitiveness resonated with me so much. His 2.80 career ERA as a Nat did not hurt either. Between the no-hitters, the 20 strikeout game and his iconic broken nose game, Mad Max was the epitome of a warrior on the mound. I was a pitcher, and every time I took the mound, I wanted to be like Max.
2. Juan Soto
The second spot is a little trickier, but I decided to go with the best pure hitter I have ever seen in DC. Ever since I saw him hit his first home run at 19 years old against the Padres while watching the game on my phone during a college fair, I knew he was special. Watching his at bats was like watching a master craftsman. There was a beauty to his at bats that nobody else has. Between that and his clutch playoff moments, Juan gets the number 2 spot. I wish he was in DC longer and it sucks that he is a Met now.
3. Ryan Zimmerman
Ryan Zimmerman has been a part of my life since I was 5 years old. He was the guy in the lean years, but also got to climb the mountain top as a grizzled vet in 2019. While I was too young to fully appreciate his prime, I still enjoyed it. That 2017 season where he turned back the clock was such a joy to watch. Seeing Mr. National get his ring was one of the best parts of that 2019 victory. Build the statue!
4. Daniel Murphy
While he was only here for 2.5 seasons and was not on the World Series team, Daniel Murphy is one of my favorite Nats. Like Soto, I absolutely loved to watch him hit. He was on a different level in that 2016 season. Murphy was a hitting machine. I loved how he went the other way on outside pitches for base hits and then turned on those balls inside. He was such a special hitter to watch.
5. Wilson Ramos
The fact he did an interview with Federal Baseball might have moved him up a few spots, but I loved the Buffalo. He was a big personality and a great offensive catcher. If he didn’t get hurt in 2016, I truly believe that team could have given the Cubs a run for their money. I loved singing his name during his walkup song! My interview with him only made me love him more. Great player and great dude.
6. Anthony Rendon
I wrote about my love for Anthony Rendon yesterday, so naturally I have him high on the list. He is another one of those pure hitters that was a joy to watch. I have never seen a more chill baseball player. That mentality was a blessing and a curse for him. However, it was mostly a blessing in DC. In a big playoff moment, he is the guy I would want at the plate. The fact he is so hated by the baseball world these days only makes me want to defend him more.
7. Stephen Strasburg
Having Strasburg and Rendon next to each other is only fitting, given their disastrous contracts and 2019 heroics. To be honest, Strasburg got on my nerves sometimes. I always wanted him to be the competitor Scherzer was, but he was never that guy. However, when it mattered most, Strasburg always showed up. After Madison Bumgarner, Strasburg is the best playoff pitcher of his generation.
8. Howie Kendrick
Howie is the first player on this list who is more of a cult hero than a star. He really only played one full season in DC, but boy was it memorable. Howie was a hitting machine and clutch god in 2019. I will never ever forget that ball banging off the foul pole in game 7, or that grand slam to finally get over the NLDS hump. His regular season was also quite reminiscent of that Daniel Murphy year where he just never got out.
9. Tyler Clippard
This might be a weird one, but I loved Clippard. I got a picture with him once at a baseball camp, and it is still in my room over a decade later. His Ready or Not walk out song was iconic and he usually got the job done.
10. Jayson Werth
The Jayson Werth signing meant so much to this franchise. It gave Nats fans hope for a bright future. Werth did a lot to bring professionalism and a winning culture to DC. His Game 4 homer in 2012 was an all time Nationals moment. The last couple years were a little ugly on the field, but Werth is a Nats great.
11. Bryce Harper
I liked Bryce Harper, but I never loved him. He actually seems a lot more likable these days, but he was certainly a cocky kid when he came up. His 2015 season alone warrants a spot on this list. Bryce always stepped up in the playoffs as well. He is a polarizing figure, but I always liked him. Baseball needs more of their stars to have an edge like Bryce does.
12. Sean Doolittle
I loved Doolittle both for his quality performances on the mound and his quirky personality. Not a whole lot of baseball players are like him. He really embraced DC and the culture of the city. After a brutal second half of the 2019 season, he stepped up big in the playoffs which was massive for the Nationals. They needed him to be a lockdown arm alongside Daniel Hudson and he was just that.
13. Chad Cordero
Sticking with the theme of closers, I am going with the Chief here. While I was too young to fully appreciate him, I still remember loving him as a kid. My dad also loved him a lot which made me love him more.
14. Trea Turner
Trea was a pleasure to watch. He was so athletic and smooth on the baseball diamond. Watching him burst onto the scene in 2016 was so exciting. Every time he had a chance to run, it was box office. His transformation from good shortstop to super star by the end of his time in DC was also fun to watch.
15. Jordan Zimmermann
When I was throwing in the back yard with my dad, I wanted to replicate Jordan Zimmermann’s mechanics. They were so simple and he repeated it every time. He was the definition of a workhorse number 2 starter at his best. His no-hitter was also an iconic Nats moment.
16. Ian Desmond
Desmond was a frustrating player at times, but he was a great dude. He always signed autographs for kids like myself. Desmond also had plenty of on field success. His power/speed combination was special when he was on his game. He was streaky, but when he was hot, Desmond was awesome.
17. Michael Morse
The owner of the best walkup song in Nats history was a thumper in the middle of the Nats lineup. He was a big personality and a great hitter. I will never forget the “home run” he hit without a bat.
18. Gio Gonzalez
Gio was like the Ian Desmond of pitchers. A very good player, but also quite frustrating. He was always effectively wild and had a pitching style which was effective but not the best to watch. However, his 2012 season was magical and he was a rock in the rotation.
19. Kurt Suzuki
His walk off homer against the Mets to complete the most insane come back in Nats history earns Suzuki a spot. For a franchise that hasn’t had a ton of great catchers, Suzuki brought solid production in both of his stints in DC.
20. Alfonso Soriano
Another one I was a little too young to fully appreciate, Soriano had one of the greatest seasons in Nats history. His 40-40 campaign was one for the ages. While I only have vague memories of him doing his thing at RFK, I love watching his highlights.
21. Rafael Soriano
I just loved how ridiculous he was. The whole untuck thing always was hilarious. I have never seen a closer get himself in and out of trouble like Soriano did. He always gave me a panic attack, but he actually got the job done more often than not.
22. Gerardo Parra
While the Baby Shark thing got quite old after 2019, it was a ton of fun while it lasted. He was such a charismatic presence and really brought that 2019 team together. Parra had a lot of big hits early in his time with the Nats which kept them afloat, most notably that home run against the Dodgers. Baby Shark will never be forgotten.
23. Roger Bernadina
The original shark should not be forgotten. He and Michael A Taylor were the perfect fourth outfielders. Great defenders who could hit just enough. Bernadina’s game winning catch against the Astros is one of the best plays I have ever seen a National make.
24. Craig Stammen
I always had a soft spot for Craig Stammen. He was one of those unsung hero’s who just always did his job. Always solid, but never got the headlines. I felt very bad when the 2019 Nats hit four straight home runs off of him when he was with the Padres.
I hope the next time I do this list, guys like Mackenzie Gore, James Wood and Dylan Crews make the list! As I enter a new year, I am so grateful to the Federal Baseball community and love being able to make content for you guys!