No one loves a good debate quite like baseball fans, and with that in mind, we asked each of our beat reporters to rank the top five players by position in the history of their franchise, based on their careers while playing for that club.
These rankings are for fun and debate purposes only.
Here is Jessica Camerato’s ranking of the top five left fielders in Nationals/Expos franchise history.
1. Tim Raines, Expos (1979-90)
Key fact: Raines was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2017.
Glance at the Expos/Nationals franchise leaderboards, and the Hall of Famer Raines' name pops out across multiple categories.
Raines led all of baseball in stolen bases in 1981 and ‘84, and he topped the National League in the two seasons in between. Raines won the '86 NL batting title by hitting .334 with an NL-best .413 OBP, taking home a Silver Slugger Award that year. He also earned seven consecutive All-Star selections -- including his first in 1981, when he finished second in Rookie of the Year Award voting -- and he was named Most Valuable Player in the ‘87 All-Star Game.
2. Juan Soto, Nationals (2018-2022)
Key fact: In 2020, Soto became the first Nationals player to win the NL batting title.
Soto played left and right field with the Nationals, but he spent slightly more time in left, including the 2019 World Series. In four-plus seasons in Washington, a young Soto became one of the most impactful players in team history.
A World Series champion in his age-20 season, Soto defied age and experience with his offensive production. Soto slashed .291/.427/.538 in 565 games with the Nationals. He crushed 119 home runs and tallied a .966 OPS. He became the youngest player to win the NL batting title when he did so in 2020 during his age-21 season.
During the Nationals' 2019 World Series run, Soto emerged. He smashed five home runs and recorded 14 RBIs with a .927 OPS in just 17 games. Soto became only the fourth player to hit a World Series homer before turning 21, along with Miguel Cabrera, Andruw Jones and Mickey Mantle.
3. James Wood, Nationals (2024-present)
Key fact: Hit an inside-the-park grand slam and an outside-the-park grand slam in 2026.
The blockbuster trade that sent Soto to the Padres in 2022 yielded a massive return, including a then-prospect Wood. The 6-foot-6 slugger has been a powerhouse at the plate since the early days of his career. Wood earned his first All-Star selection in his first full Major League season in 2025, and he was selected again the following year.
Wood also was named to the 2026 All-MLB Second Team. He joined Adam Dunn (2009-10) as only the second Nationals player to hit 30 home runs in back-to-back seasons. With this power -- Wood led the league in exit velocity in 2026 -- he displays patience at the plate, too. He led the NL in walk rate in 2026 as well.
4. Alfonso Soriano, Nationals (2006)
Key fact: Soriano holds the franchise record in most home runs in a season (46 in 2006).
Yes, Soriano only played one season in Washington. But let’s take a look at what he accomplished in that period of time. Soriano transitioned to left field when he joined the Nationals in 2006.
That season, Soriano became the fourth member of the 40-40 club. He hit 46 homers and stole 41 bases. Defensively, he led NL left fielders in putouts (326) and assists (22). Altogether, he earned an All-Star selection and Silver Slugger Award in 2006. Soriano hit .277/.351/.560 with a .911 OPS for the Nats.
5. Moises Alou, Expos (1990-96)
Key fact: Alou led the Expos in batting average (.339) while winning the Silver Slugger Award in 1994.
Alou, the second overall pick in the 1986 MLB Draft, was acquired by the Expos from the Pirates in ‘90. It was in Montreal where he began to lay the foundation for his 17-year Major League career.
Alou finished second in Rookie of the Year voting in 1992, and he had a breakout campaign only two seasons later. In '94, Alou slashed .339/.397/.592 with a .989 OPS and 143 hits. That season, he garnered his first of six All-Star selections, the first of two Silver Slugger Awards and he came in third in the NL Most Valuable Player Award voting.
Alou manned left field in 324 of his 608 games with the Expos. Overall, Alou hit .292/.349/.489 with a 120 OPS+ as a member of the Expos. For the majority of his time in Montreal, Alou played for his father, Felipe, who managed the team from 1992-2001.