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 right fielders in Nationals/Expos franchise history:
1. Vladimir Guerrero, Expos (1996-2003)
Key fact: Guerrero was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018
Guerrero is one of the best talents to have played for the Expos/Nationals franchise. The batting-glove-less phenom played the first half of his 16-year career with Montreal. While on the Expos, he earned four consecutive All-Star selections (1999-2002) and a Silver Slugger Award in three of those seasons (‘99, ‘00, ‘02).
Guerrero leads the franchise with the highest batting average (.323), slugging percentage (.588) and OPS (.978), and he is second in home runs (234). During his tenure with the Expos, he recorded a 34.7 bWAR.
In the field, Guerrero led National League right fielders in putouts (twice), assists (twice) and double plays (once) while playing for the Expos.
He signed with the Angels in 2004 and won the American League MVP Award in ‘05. In total, he accumulated nine All-Star nods and eight Silver Slugger Awards over his career.
2. Bryce Harper (2012-18)
Key fact: The Nationals selected Harper with the first overall pick in the 2010 Draft
Harper debuted on April 28, 2012, at 19 years old and immediately made his presence known: He won the NL Rookie of the Year Award and earned an All-Star selection.
The accolades piled up over his eight years with the Nationals -- the 2015 NL MVP Award, six All-Star honors, a Silver Slugger Award and the ‘18 Home Run Derby title (at Nationals Park). During Harper’s MVP campaign, he led all of baseball in on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS+ and offensive win percentage.
In his seven seasons in Washington, Harper slashed .279/.388/.512. He tallied a .900 OPS, hit 184 home runs, drove in 521 runs, and scored 610 runs.
In four postseason series with the Nats, Harper hit five home runs over 19 games, including three in the 2014 NL Division Series against the Giants.
3. Jayson Werth (2011-17)
Key fact: His accomplishments are recognized in the Ring of Honor at Nationals Park
The fan-favorite Werth inked a seven-year deal with the Nationals in 2010 and went on to close his 15-season Major League career in Washington. The Nats made the postseason in four of those years, including in 2012 when he grinded through a 13-pitch at-bat and belted a ninth-inning, walk-off home run in Game 4 of the NLDS against the Cardinals.
Werth hit .263/.355/.433 with a .788 OPS, 109 home runs and a 113 OPS+ in 808 games with the Nationals. He led NL right fielders in fielding percentage (.992) in 2013. In 2016, he became the fourth player to hit his 200th career home run donning a Nationals uniform.
4. Larry Walker, Expos (1989-94)
Key fact: Walker was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2020
Walker began his Hall of Fame career in 1984, when he signed with Montreal as an amateur free agent. Five years later, he made his Major League debut and played the first six of his 17 seasons as a member of the Expos. During that time, Walker won two Gold Glove Awards, a Silver Slugger and an All-Star selection in 1992.
Walker appeared in 674 games with the Expos. He compiled a slash line of .281/.357/.483, a .839 OPS and 99 home runs. Walker led NL outfielders with 16 assists in 1992, and he ranked first in the NL with 44 doubles in ‘94.
Walker went on to win the 1997 NL MVP Award and three batting titles as a member of the Rockies.
5. Rusty Staub, Expos (1969-71)
Key fact: The Expos retired Staub’s number (10) in 1993
Staub donned an Expos uniform for three of his 23 Major League seasons. He earned an All-Star selection in each of those years, which coincided with leading Montreal in home runs during that span. Staub also was named the Expos Player of the Year by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America in 1969, and he paced the team in RBIs from 1970-71 and batting average in ‘69 and ‘70.
Staub slashed .295/.402/.497 with an .899 OPS and 149 OPS+ in 518 games for Montreal.