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The Washington Nationals' 2019 World Series Champion on the Baseball Hall of Fame Ballot

2024-11-22

The Washington Nationals hold a significant place in baseball history with a member of their 2019 World Series championship team now on this year's Baseball Hall of Fame ballot. Fernando Rodney, a newcomer to the candidacy, has left an indelible mark on the sport. His final Major League season was with the Nationals, marking a turning point in his career.

Rodney's Journey in the Majors

Rodney embarked on his Major League journey in 2002 with the Detroit Tigers. Over the course of 17 years, he played with an astonishing 11 different teams. His time with the Nationals, though short-lived, was eventful. Washington signed him to a minor-league deal in June and he was called up shortly thereafter. During the regular season with the Nationals, he made 38 appearances, finishing with two saves, 35 strikeouts, and 16 walks in 33.1 innings. At the time, at the age of 42, he was the second-oldest player in the game behind Ichiro Suzuki, who is also on this year's ballot.In the postseason, Rodney made six appearances, including three in the World Series against the Houston Astros. He pitched 4.2 innings, giving up two hits, two earned runs, and six walks. The World Series championship was a crowning achievement in his career.He broke into the Majors with the Detroit Tigers and went on to earn three All-Star Game nods. In 2013, he was selected to the all-World Baseball Classic team as a member of the gold-medal winning Dominican Republic team. His best overall season was in 2012 with the Tampa Bay Rays when he saved 48 games with a remarkable 0.60 ERA in 74.2 innings. This was the second-lowest single-season ERA for a pitcher with at least 50 innings since 1913. He also finished fifth in Cy Young voting and 13th in MVP voting. In 2014, he saved a Major League-high 48 games.His 327 career saves place him in the Top 20 in the category, and his bow-and-arrow celebration after completing a save became his trademark. He tied an MLB record with one save for nine different teams.The rest of the first-time candidates for the Class of 2025 are pitcher CC Sabathia, infielder Ian Kinsler, infielder Dustin Pedroia, pitcher Félix Hernández, outfielder Curtis Granderson, infielder Troy Tulowitzki, infielder/outfielder Ben Zobrist, catcher Russell Martin, infielder Hanley Ramirez, outfielder Adam Jones, catcher Brian McCann, and outfielder Carlos González. Each of these candidates brings a unique story and contribution to the Hall of Fame discussion.