Washington Nationals

Washington Nationals announce the passing of owner Ted Lerner

The Washington Nationals announced on Monday morning that the team’s founding managing principal owner, Ted Lerner, passed away on Sunday at the age of 97.

Lerner died at his Chevy Chase, MD home due to complications of pneumonia.

Lerner, a billionaire real estate developer, helped bring the Nationals to Washington from Montreal for $450 million. During his time as owner, the Nationals went from last to a World Series-winning team in 2019. The Lerners also opened Nationals Park in 2008 in the Navy Yard area of DC.

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By Ian Oland 1 month ago

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Nationals honor Tom Brady as he was the last active draft pick in Expos history before retiring from NFL

Legendary NFL quarterback Tom Brady announced his retirement from professional football on Wednesday after a 23-year career. He retires as a winner of seven Super Bowls, a five-time Super Bowl MVP, and the NFL’s all-time leader in passing yards (89,214) and touchdowns (649).

Before all of the football fame, Brady was a multi-sport athlete playing both football and baseball at Junipero Serra High School in California. The then 18-year-old future Patriot and Buccaneer was good enough with a bat and glove to be drafted by the Montreal Expos in the 18th round of the 1995 MLB Draft.

With his 2023 retirement, Brady will go down as the last active professional athlete to be drafted by Montreal. The Expos moved to Washington, DC and became the Nationals in 2005.

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By Chris Cerullo 2 months ago

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Washington Nationals invite Tom Wilson to batting practice after witnessing his stick-swinging butt tap on TJ Oshie

The Washington Nationals appear to foresee Tom Wilson as a possible two-sport star after seeing the forward’s warmup routine with TJ Oshie.

Before the Capitals’ January 16 game against the New York Islanders, Wilson flipped his stick around and baseball-swung at Osh’s tush with the shaft of his twig.

“open invite to BP,” the Nationals wrote on Twitter.

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By Ian Oland 2 months ago

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Sean Doolittle is back with the Washington Nationals after signing minor league contract

Washington Nationals fans rejoice as beloved relief pitcher and Capitol Hill resident Sean Doolittle is remaining in the Nationals organization. The team announced on Sunday that just hours after he became a free agent they have agreed to terms with ‘Dooooooooo’ on a minor league contract with an invitation to 2023 MLB Spring Training.

The 2019 World Series winner returned to the Nats in 2022 after spending one season away with the Cincinnati Reds and Seattle Mariners.

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By Chris Cerullo 4 months ago

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Have you ever wanted to be a racing president or drive the bullpen cart at a Nationals game? Here’s your chance.

If you’re a Washington Nationals fan and have looked on in jealousy at the racing president mascots, bullpen cart drivers, or ball girls at Nats Park, today is your lucky day.

The Nats have job openings listed at all three of those positions for the 2023 Major League Baseball season. Get those applications in.

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By Chris Cerullo 5 months ago

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Report: Ted Leonsis’ group emerges as front-runner to buy the Washington Nationals

The Athletic is reporting that Ted Leonsis has emerged as the “front-runner” to buy the Washington Nationals and has been so for “the last month or so.”

This news comes after Leonsis joined forces with billionaire David Rubenstein, co-founder of the Carlyle Group, to aggressively try and acquire the team.

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By Ian Oland 5 months ago

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Nationals and Joey Meneses send gift to fan who had baseball stolen by adult

Washington Nationals player Joey Meneses warmed the hearts of baseball fans with his attempt to make things right for a young fan. The gesture was reminiscent of what Brett Connolly did for Keelan Moxley four years ago.

10-year-old Avery Gillard stood along the right field railings at Nationals Park with her mitt in hand, ready to catch any ball that came her way. She was attending the Nationals-Athletics game on September 1 alongside her 10U softball team, which was being highlighted by the Nats organization.

Avery and her teammates caught the attention of Nationals outfielder Joey Meneses, who tossed the ball to her. Unfortunately, Avery was a victim of what we see happen far too often, as an aggressive fan jumped in front to rob her of her ball.

Her mother, Gina Hillard, tweeted out the video, hoping to catch the attention of the team.

“Grown man steals baseball from little girl,” Hillard wrote. “@Nationals can you get Joey Meneses to sign a baseball and send it to my daughter?”

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By Faith Harris 6 months ago

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James Wood, a talented prospect and local product, could be a major factor in the Nationals’ turnaround after painful Juan Soto trade

The Washington Nationals are in the midst of an organizational rebuild after it was clear the wheels had completely fallen off from their 2019 World Series team. In early August, they arguably made the most painful trade of all, parting ways with All-Star outfielder and generational talent Juan Soto when it was apparent he would not re-sign long-term. The Nats got back five prospects in return from the San Diego Padres who they hope will help make them contenders once again in the future.

The haul was a badly needed replenishment of the Nats’ farm system that entered the season ranked 23rd overall on MLB.com’s rankings. Two of the key players in the deal, MacKenzie Gore and C.J. Abrams, have both graduated from prospect status, but Robert Hassell III (23rd best prospect in baseball), James Wood (35th best), and Jarlin Susana have boosted the Nats to #15 on MLB’s midseason farm system rankings.

“You can’t forget that Anthony (Rendon) and Trea (Turner) and Max (Scherzer) and (Bryce) Harper, all these guys, they were the Abrams, the Hassells, and the Woods of the world before they became superstars,” GM Mike Rizzo said to the Sports Junkies last month. “That’s what I would tell the fans. We put ourselves in a position to have sustained success and we’re hoping that this trade, the last trade deadline, and the last couple of drafts will allow us to supplement the talent base. Our goal is to win championships.”

On Friday, I went down to Fredericksburg’s Virginia Credit Union Stadium to watch the Fredericksburg Nationals play the Down East Wood Ducks where the Nats’ burgeoning young talent was on display. James Wood, batting 3rd and playing centerfield for the Nats, led the team with a four-hit night, including two doubles and two runs batted in. Fredericksburg piled on with a season-high 23 runs. Behind James in the order was 2021 eighth-round pick Will Frizzell, who had three home runs and knocked in seven runs.

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By Alan Dobbins 7 months ago

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Wolf Trap Animal Rescue surprises Nationals with puppies before series against Athletics

The Washington Nationals are struggling mightily this season. They are by far the worst team in the MLB (league-worst 43 wins) and controversially traded away superstar Juan Soto at the trade deadline. They need all pick-me-ups they can get.

Tuesday, they received one. Nationals players hung out with puppies from Wolf Trap Animal Rescue before kicking their series off against the Oakland Athletics.

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By Chris Cerullo and Ian Oland 7 months ago

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How Ted Leonsis buying the Washington Nationals could create an unprecedented local sports network

Monumental Sports & Entertainment chairman, Ted Leonsis, is in the process of creating an empire unrivaled across the sports landscape.

Leonsis, who already owns the Washington Capitals, Washington Wizards, Washington Mystics, and Capital City Go-Go franchises, is looking into making a serious bid to land the Washington Nationals along with partner David Rubenstein. MSE is also in the process of fully purchasing NBC Sports Washington with the intention of creating a one-of-a-kind streaming platform in the future.

If the former America Online senior executive is successful in his bid to buy the Nats, he’ll become the only sports owner to own three ‘Big Four’ (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL) teams in one city.

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By Chris Cerullo 7 months ago

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