Analysis Interpretation of the news based on evidence, including data, as well as anticipating how events might unfold based on past events.
How the Nationals built a World Series roster
For the first time in franchise history, the Washington Nationals are World Series champions.
In building a winning team, the Nationals drew from every talent pool available to a major league club. They made smart draft picks, big free agent signings, key trades and aggressive moves in the international market.
[ The bandwagon fan’s guide to the Nationals in the World Series ]
Ryan Zimmerman – who hit the Nationals' first World Series home run in Tuesday night's Game 1 win – was drafted by the franchise in 2005 and has been with the team for every season of its existence in D.C. Several key contributors, on the other hand, arrived before or even during this season, including closer Daniel Hudson.
Four players drafted by team
Timeline starts the season the player was acquired by the Nationals in his current stint with the team. Darker colors mean more plate appearances or innings pitched.
| 2005'05 | 2006'06 | 2007'07 | 2008'08 | 2009'09 | 2010'10 | 2011'11 | 2012'12 | 2013'13 | 2014'14 | 2015'15 | 2016'16 | 2017'17 | 2018'18 | 2019'19 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Ryan ZimmermanZimmerman, 1B | 62 PA | 682 PA | 722 PA | 466 PA | 694 PA | 603 PA | 440 PA | 641 PA | 633 PA | 240 PA | 390 PA | 467 PA | 576 PA | 323 PA | 190 PA |
 Stephen StrasburgStrasburg, P | 68 IP | 24 IP | 159.1 IP | 183 IP | 215 IP | 127.1 IP | 147.2 IP | 175.1 IP | 130 IP | 209 IP | |||||
 Michael A. TaylorTaylor, CF | 43 PA | 511 PA | 237 PA | 432 PA | 385 PA | 97 PA | |||||||||
 Anthony RendonRendon, 3B | 394 PA | 683 PA | 355 PA | 647 PA | 605 PA | 597 PA | 646 PA | ||||||||
Three players signed as international prospects
| 2005'05 | 2006'06 | 2007'07 | 2008'08 | 2009'09 | 2010'10 | 2011'11 | 2012'12 | 2013'13 | 2014'14 | 2015'15 | 2016'16 | 2017'17 | 2018'18 | 2019'19 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Wander SueroSuero, P | 47.2 IP | 71.1 IP | |||||||||||||
 Victor RoblesRobles, CF | 27 PA | 66 PA | 617 PA | ||||||||||||
 Juan SotoSoto, LF | 494 PA | 659 PA | |||||||||||||
Eight players acquired via trade
| 2005'05 | 2006'06 | 2007'07 | 2008'08 | 2009'09 | 2010'10 | 2011'11 | 2012'12 | 2013'13 | 2014'14 | 2015'15 | 2016'16 | 2017'17 | 2018'18 | 2019'19 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Trea TurnerTurner, SS | 44 PA | 324 PA | 447 PA | 740 PA | 569 PA | ||||||||||
 Joe RossRoss, P | 76.2 IP | 105 IP | 73.2 IP | 16 IP | 64 IP | ||||||||||
 Adam EatonEaton, RF | 107 PA | 370 PA | 656 PA | ||||||||||||
 Howie KendrickKendrick, 2B | 178 PA | 160 PA | 370 PA | ||||||||||||
 Sean DoolittleDoolittle, P | 30 IP | 45 IP | 60 IP | ||||||||||||
 Yan GomesGomes, C | 358 PA | ||||||||||||||
 Tanner RaineyRainey, P | 48.1 IP | ||||||||||||||
 Daniel HudsonHudson, P | 25 IP | ||||||||||||||
10 players signed as free agents or claimed off waivers
| 2005'05 | 2006'06 | 2007'07 | 2008'08 | 2009'09 | 2010'10 | 2011'11 | 2012'12 | 2013'13 | 2014'14 | 2015'15 | 2016'16 | 2017'17 | 2018'18 | 2019'19 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Max ScherzerScherzer, P | 228.2 IP | 228.1 IP | 200.2 IP | 220.2 IP | 172.1 IP | ||||||||||
 Patrick CorbinCorbin, P | 202 IP | ||||||||||||||
 Aníbal SánchezSanchez, P | 166 IP | ||||||||||||||
 Brian DozierDozier, 2B | 482 PA | ||||||||||||||
 Matt AdamsAdams, 1B | 333 PA | ||||||||||||||
 Kurt SuzukiSuzuki, C | 309 PA | ||||||||||||||
 Gerardo ParraParra, CF | 204 PA | ||||||||||||||
 Javy GuerraGuerra, P | 53.2 IP | ||||||||||||||
 Asdrúbal CabreraCabrera, SS | 146 PA | ||||||||||||||
 Fernando RodneyRodney, P | 33.1 IP | ||||||||||||||
This is actually Kurt Suzuki’s and Asdrubal Cabrera’s second stint with the Nationals. Cabrera was traded to Washington in July 2014 but left in free agency during the offseason, and Suzuki was traded from the Athletics in August 2012 only to be traded back the next summer. The graphic only shows their statistics since they were most recently acquired by the team.
Correction: An earlier version of this graphic omitted Howie Kendrick’s 178 PA for the Nationals in 2017. He was traded to Washington in July of that year.
About this story
Appearance and transaction data from Baseball-Reference.com.
Originally published Oct. 23, 2019.
Player photos by John McDonnell/The Washington Post, Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post and Rob Carr/Getty Images
