Every season, a select group of players accomplish the feat of making their Major League debuts.
When it comes to Nationals history (2005-present), that milestone is headlined by Stephen Strasburg’s arrival in 2010 -- memorably called “Strasmas.”
But a debut doesn’t have to have that level of fanfare to become one of the most notable. Sometimes, a rookie emerges with a standout game that turns heads and is talked about years later.
Here is a look at the Nationals’ top debut performances:
RHP Stephen Strasburg
June 8, 2010
Strasburg in 2009 became the Nationals’ first No. 1 overall pick. One day shy of a year later, he took the mound at Nationals Park for his highly anticipated debut. In front of 40,315 fans, Strasburg dominated, with 14 strikeouts in seven innings against the Pirates. He gave up only two runs off four hits, including a home run, and he did not issue a walk while throwing an efficient 94 pitches. Strasburg became the second pitcher since 1987 to record 14-plus strikeouts on less than 100 pitches. He also became the second to strike out seven consecutive batters in his debut.
LHP Mitchell Parker
April 15, 2024
Debuting against a daunting Los Angeles lineup, Parker excelled at Dodger Stadium. He opened by striking out Mookie Betts on four pitches, and he retired the side in the third inning against Betts, Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman. Parker recorded four strikeouts and held the Dodgers to two runs off four hits in five innings. He became the first Nationals starting pitcher to earn a win in his debut since Strasburg.
LHP Andrew Alvarez, C C.J. Stubbs
Sept. 1, 2025
Alvarez and Stubbs paired up to become the first Nationals starting pitcher and catcher to make their Major League debuts in the same game since 2008. Alvarez took a no-hitter into the fifth inning at home against the Marlins and earned the win in the Nats’ 2-0 victory. Alvarez became the first pitcher in Nationals history (since 2005) to throw at least five scoreless frames in his debut. Stubbs became the first catcher in club history to catch a shutout in his debut, as well as the first in the Majors to do so since Sean Murphy with the Athletics on Sept. 4, 2019, per Elias Sports Bureau.
RHP Joan Adon
Oct. 3, 2021
Facing a Red Sox team that had a playoff berth on the line in the season finale at Nationals Park, Adon dominated in his debut, which also happened to be Ryan Zimmerman's final career game. Adon struck out nine batters, setting the season high for any pitcher in baseball making his debut in 2021. He hurled 5 1/3 innings, holding Boston to two runs off six hits (including one homer) and three walks.
INF Ian Desmond
Sept. 10, 2009
Desmond collected an RBI double off Joe Blanton in his second big league at-bat. Then he mashed a three-run homer in his third. Desmond was 2-for-4 with four RBIs in the Nats’ 8-7 home victory over the Phillies.
RHP Jordan Zimmermann
April 20, 2009
Zimmermann became the first Nationals starter to earn a “W” in his Major League debut. He defeated the visiting Braves with six innings that included six hits, two runs, one walk and three strikeouts.
OF Michael A. Taylor
Aug. 12, 2014
After Anthony Rendon and Desmond homered in the sixth inning against the Mets at Citi Field, Taylor continued the momentum with the Nationals’ third dinger of the frame. Taylor’s first Major League homer was a two-run opposite-field drive off Carlos Torres. Taylor finished 2-for-4 in Washington’s 7-1 win.
INF Carter Kieboom
April 26, 2019
Kieboom didn’t just record a hit in his first Major League at-bat -- he crushed a 400-foot home run in the bottom of the eighth inning against the Padres’ Craig Stammen. After the game-tying solo homer, Kieboom received a curtain call from the home crowd.
1B Joey Meneses
Aug. 2, 2022
After 12 years of grinding through the Minor Leagues, a 30-year-old Meneses capitalized on his long-awaited opportunity. Meneses belted a 405-foot home run off Yoan López in the Nats' win over the visiting Mets. He became the seventh player in team history to go yard in his debut.
Honorable mention
OF Robert Hassell III
May 22, 2025
Hassell put an exclamation mark on his Major League debut by scoring the winning run in the Nats’ 10-inning walk-off victory over the Braves. He went 2-for-5 with two runs, and he became the first player in Nationals history to record multiple hits and a stolen base in his debut.
RHP Luis Atilano
April 23, 2010
Atilano earned the win in his debut when he threw six innings with one run, five hits, two walks and one strikeout against the Dodgers.
RHP Andry Lara
July 2, 2025
Lara recorded four strikeouts and faced just 10 batters in three scoreless innings of relief against the visiting Tigers.