Farm System Rankings: #28 Washington Nationals/Montreal Expos

From 2001 until 2011, the Washington Nationals/Montreal Expos had 71 of the 171 players examined (41.52%) play at least one game at the Major League level. The Nationals/Expos saw 55 players (77.46%) play for them while the other 16 spent time with one of the other thirty MLB clubs.

2001-2011 National/Expos Farm System Rank

 At The Helm

General Manager Mike Rizzo

The National/Expos had five General Managers (Jim Beattie 2001, Larry Beinfest 2002, Omar Minaya 2003-2004, Jim Bowden 2005-2009, Mike Rizzo 2010-2011), five Farm Directors (Tony LaCava 2001, Adam Wogan 2003-2005, Andy Dunn 2006-2008, Bobby Williams 2009, Doug Harris 2010-2011), and three Scouting Directors (Jim Fleming 2001-2002, Dana Brown 2003-2009, Kris Kline 2010-2011) over the eleven year time period examined.

Five Hits

1.      Ryan Zimmerman, 3B: In his seven year career he has played in 800 games, hitting .289 with 121 HR and 475 RBI. A member of the 2009 National League All-Star team and 2009 Gold Glove winner. Drafted by the Nationals in the 1^st round (4^th overall) of the 2005 amateur draft.  

2.      Stephen Strasburg, RHP: The 23 year old seems like the real deal after posting a record of 5-3 with a 2.91 ERA over 12 starts in 2010 with the Nationals. The big question is regarding his health as he is currently recovering from Tommy John Surgery. If he can return to his 2010 form then Strasburg could be the ace of the Nationals starting rotation for many years to come. Drafted by the Nationals in the 1^st round (1^st overall) of the 2009 amateur draft.   

3.      Drew Storen, RHP: The 23 year old closer of the Nationals has posted a record of 10-6 with a 3.16 ERA and 34 saves in his career to date. As long as he remains healthy Storen could become a perennial All-Star closer. Drafted by the Nationals in the 1^st round (10^th overall) of the 2009 amateur draft.

4.      Ian Desmond, SS: During his three year career he has hit .255 with 18 HR and 108 RBI. Although not the most well known shortstop in the game, Desmond brings the complete package with both his defence and offence and at worst will continue to have a solid big league career. Drafted by the Expos in the 3^rd round of the 2004 amateur draft.  

5.      Jordan Zimmermann, RHP: In his three year career the 25 year old has posted a record of 11-16 with a 3.87 ERA. It appears that he will be a solid number two behind Strasburg over the next few seasons in Washington. Drafted by the Nationals in the 2^nd round of the 2007 amateur draft.

Five Misses

1.      Clint Everts, RHP: The 26 year old has spent nine seasons pitching in the minor leagues where he has compiled a record of 36-41 with a 4.15 ERA. He currently is playing for Double-A New Hampshire (Eastern) in the Blue Jays organization. Drafted by the Expos in the 1^st round (5^th overall) of the 2002 amateur draft.

2.      Josh Girdley, LHP: The now 30 year old last pitched in 2004 with Hi-A Brevard County (Florida State). In his six years in the minors he compiled a record of 7-15 with a 4.10 ERA. Drafted by the Expos in the 1^st round (6^th overall) of the 1999 amateur draft.  

3.      Josh Karp, RHP: In his five years in the minors he compiled a record of 24-33 with a 4.94 ERA. Last pitched in independent ball for Victoria (Golden) in 2009. Drafted by the Expos in 1^st round (6^th overall) of the 2001 amateur draft.

4.      Donnie Bridges, RHP: In his eleven year minor league career he compiled a record of 56-64 with a 4.61 ERA. Last pitched in independent ball for Alexandria (United) in 2007. Drafted by the Expos in the 1^st round (23^rd overall) of the 1997 amateur draft.

5.      Justin Wayne, RHP: The now 32 year old appeared in 26 games over parts of three seasons with the Florida Marlins, posting a record of 5-8 with a 6.13 ERA. Traded to the Marlins as part of the package that brought Cliff Floyd (OF) to the Expos in July 2002.  Drafted by the Expos in the 1^st round (5^th overall) of the 2000 amateur draft.

Five Current Major Leaguers on Other Teams

1.      Cliff Lee, LHP, Philadelphia Phillies: The 2008 American League Cy Young Award winner and three-time All-Star has posted a record of 113-68 with a 3.76 ERA over his eleven year career. Traded by the Expos to the Indians in June 2002 along with Brandon Philips (2B), Grady Sizemore (OF), and Lee Stevens (1B) in exchange for Bartolo Colon (RHP, and Tim Drew (RHP). Drafted by the Expos in the 4^th round of the 2000 amateur draft.

2.      Brandon Phillips, 2B, Cincinnati Reds: The two-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winner at second has a career batting average of .269 to go with his 122 HR and 504 RBI. He was the top Expos prospect entering the 2002 season. Traded by the Expos to the Indians in June 2002 along with Cliff Lee (LHP), Grady Sizemore (OF), and Lee Stevens (1B) in exchange for Bartolo Colon (RHP, and Tim Drew (RHP). Drafted by the Expos in the 2^nd round of the 1999 amateur draft.

3.      Grady Sizemore, CF, Cleveland Indians: The 29 year old has spent eight seasons in the majors with the Indians. The three-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winner has a career batting average of .270 with 139 HR and 455 RBI. Traded by the Expos to the Indians in June 2002 along with Cliff Lee (LHP), Brandon Phillips (2B), and Lee Stevens (1B) in exchange for Bartolo Colon (RHP, and Tim Drew (RHP). Drafted by the Expos in 3^rd round of the 2000 amateur draft.

4.      Brian Schneider, C, Philadelphia Phillies: The 34 year old has spent twelve season in the majors with the Expos/Nationals, Mets and Phillies. His career batting average is .248 with 65 HR and 378 RBI. Traded by the Nationals along with Ryan Church (OF) to the Mets in exchange for Lastings Milledge (OF). Drafted by the Expos in the 5^th round of the 1995 amateur draft.  

5.      Bill Bray, LHP, Cincinnati Reds: The 28 year old has spent five seasons in the majors with the Nationals and Reds. He has a record of 10-10 with a 3.52 ERA in 223 (all in relief). Traded by the Nationals to the Reds in a seven-player trade that brought Austin Kearns (OF), Felipe Lopez (SS), and Ryan Wagner (RHP) to the Nationals. Drafted by the Expos in the 1^st round (13^th overall) of the 2004 amateur draft.

Fun Fact

The Nationals players have a partnership with 22fresh and Kip Simon which is a baseball urban wear company operated out of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.