John Lannan
Washington Nationals – No. 31
Starting pitcher
Born: (1984-09-27) September 27, 1984 (age 27) Long Beach, New York
Bats: Left	Throws: Left
MLB debut
July 26, 2007 for the Washington Nationals
Career statistics (through 2011 season)
Win-Loss	38-51
Earned run average	4.00
Strikeouts	393
Teams
Washington Nationals (2007-present)
Career highlights and awards
Topps All-Star Rookie LHP (2008)

John Edward Lannan (born September 27, 1984 in Long Beach, New York) is a left-handed starting pitcher in the Washington Nationals organization.

Following his time as captain of the Chaminade High School baseball team, Lannan was selected by the Washington Nationals out of Siena College in the 11th round (324th overall) of the 2005 Major League Baseball draft.

Minor Leagues[link]

He pitched for the low Single-A Vermont Expos in 2005 and the Single-A Savannah Sand Gnats in 2006, compiling ERA's of 5.26 and 4.76 respectively. In 2007, however, he blazed through the minors. He began the year for the high-A Potomac Nationals going 6-0 with an ERA of 2.13 and was promoted to the Double-A Harrisburg. He went 3–2 with a 3.25 ERA and got bumped up to Triple-A Columbus, where he started six games, and went 3–1 with a 1.75 ERA—and all of this before July ended.

Major Leagues[link]

Lannan on April 22, 2008.

The Nationals, decimated by starting injuries to their pitching staff, purchased his contract on July 26, 2007, for Lannan to start against the Philadelphia Phillies. In his debut, behind 3–2 with one out in the fifth inning, Lannan hit Chase Utley with a fastball (breaking Utley's hand) and then hit Ryan Howard on the next pitch, whereupon umpire Hunter Wendelstedt immediately ejected Lannan from the game; Lannan was the first Major Leaguer in a decade to be tossed from his debut. The next would be current Astros pitcher Kyle Weiland who was tossed in his debut with the Boston Red Sox in 2011.^[1] Lannan picked up his first Major League win, in his second start, six days later, in which he held the Cincinnati Reds hitless through three and scoreless through five inning before allowing two runs in the sixth.

On August 6, 2007, in just his third major league start, found himself on the national stage as he faced the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park in Barry Bonds's first start after tying Hank Aaron's Major League Baseball's home run record. The 22-year old Lannan held Bonds to no hits; in four plate appearances Bonds fouled out to third, walked, grounded into a double play, and, as Lannan's last batter, struck out on a 3-2 curveball with two out and one on in the seventh.^[2] Lannan finished with seven innings of one-run ball pitched, although the Nats went on to lose 3-2 in 11 innings.

He ended the year with a 2-2 record and an ERA of 4.15 in six starts, becoming one of the Nationals best starters. Over the next two years, he pitched more than 385 total innings with an ERA under 3.90. Only 22 other pitchers did that,^[3] earning him the starter position for opening day in 2009 and 2010.^[3]

Lannan threw his first complete game on June 6, 2009, a 7-1 win over the New York Mets, and a month and a half later threw his first complete game shutout on July 21, 2009, a 4-0 shutout of the Mets.

His 2010 season started off poorly, allowing seven hits, three walks, and five runs in only 3-2/2 innings against the Philadelphia Phillies on Opening Day.^[4] After a stretch of two weeks in June, where in three games, he compiled a 10.38 ERA while allowing 38 base runners in 13 innings, on June 21, 2010, Lannan was optioned to the class AA Harrisburg Senators.^[3] He was sent to AA rather than AAA because he had previously worked well with Harrisburg pitching coach Randy Tomlin.^[3]

On July 22, 2011, Lannan hit his first career home run off Hiroki Kuroda of the Los Angeles Dodgers. It was a two-run home run, giving the Nationals a 3-0 lead, en route to a 7-2 win at Dodger Stadium.

To start 2012, Lannan failed to earn a spot in the starting rotation, losing to Ross Detwiler and was optioned to AAA Syracuse to start the season.

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: John Lannan

	Biography portal
	Baseball portal

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)

Carlos Delgado
First baseman
Born: (1972-06-25) June 25, 1972 (age 40) Aguadilla, Puerto Rico
Batted: Left	Threw: Right
MLB debut
October 1, 1993 for the Toronto Blue Jays
Last MLB appearance
May 10, 2009 for the New York Mets
Career statistics
Batting average	.280
Home runs	473
Runs batted in	1,512
Teams
Toronto Blue Jays (1993–2004) Florida Marlins (2005) New York Mets (2006–2009)
Career highlights and awards
2× All-Star (2000, 2003) 3× Silver Slugger Award winner (1999, 2000, 2003) 2000 AL Hank Aaron Award 2006 Roberto Clemente Award Hit 4 home runs in one game on September 25, 2003

Carlos Juan Delgado Hernández (born June 25, 1972) is a retired Puerto Rican professional baseball player. With 473 home runs and 1,512 RBI, he holds the all-time home run and RBI records among Puerto Rican players. He is one of only six players in Major League history to hit 30 home runs in ten consecutive seasons, becoming the fourth player to do so.

During his twelve years with the Toronto Blue Jays, Delgado set many team records, including home runs (336), RBI (1,058), walks (827), slugging percentage (.556), OPS (.949), runs (889), total bases (2,786), doubles (343), runs created (1,077), extra base hits (690), times on base (2,362), hit by pitch (122), intentional walks (128) and at bats per home run (14.9). Delgado also played for the Florida Marlins and New York Mets.

Early life[link]

Delgado was born in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico to Carlos "Cao" Delgado and Carmen Digna Hérnandez. He grew up in the El Prado section of Aguadilla.^[1] There, he attended elementary school alongside his three siblings.^[1] Both his father, "Don Cao", and his grandfather, Asdrúbal "Pingolo" Delgado, were well-known figures in the town. Carlos has said that this made him feel "protected", but that it also demanded that he had to behave properly.^[1]

Carlos attended Agustín Stahl Middle School and José de Diego High School, from which he graduated in 1989.^[1] Delgado has expressed his strong feelings of pride in being an Aguadillano, noting everything he holds dear is found in the municipality, and his off-season house is located there.^[1] He developed friendships with several of the town's inhabitants, with whom he began playing baseball in the little leagues.^[1]

Professional career[link]

Toronto Blue Jays[link]

In his senior year, several major league organizations including the Cincinnati Reds, Montreal Expos, New York Mets, Texas Rangers and Toronto Blue Jays saw his potential and attempted to sign him. He chose the Blue Jays, and made his major league debut with the team during the 1993 season. Though he didn't play in the 1993 World Series, he was awarded a World Series ring.

Originally a catcher, he later switched to first base (after experiment with the Jays placing him in left field failed)^[2] and became one of the most productive sluggers in the major leagues. A two-time All-Star, in 2000 and 2003, Delgado holds several Blue Jays single-season and career records. He won the Hank Aaron and The Sporting News' Player of the Year Awards in 2000, and the Silver Slugger Award in 1999, 2000, and 2003.

In 1999, Delgado hit a career-high 44 home runs, along with 134 RBI, and a .272 batting average. The next year, he batted a career-high .344, along with 41 home runs, 57 doubles, and 137 RBI. He finished fourth in the 2000 American League MVP voting.

On September 25, 2003, in a game against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Delgado became the 15th major league player to hit four home runs in one game. He hit a three-run home run in the first inning, then led off the fourth, sixth and eighth innings with solo shots. Delgado is the only player to hit four home runs with only 4 at-bats in a game.^[3] In the 2003 season, Delgado hit 42 home runs and led the Majors with 145 RBI, while batting .302; he came in second for the AL MVP Award. He was named AL Player of the Week on September 30, 2003 and again on September 7, 2004.^[4][5]

Following the 2004 season, Delgado became a free agent, and was pursued by the Baltimore Orioles, Florida Marlins, New York Mets, Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers. The Blue Jays were not interested in re-signing him, due to payroll constraints.

Florida Marlins[link]

On January 25, 2005 Delgado chose to sign with the Marlins, signing a four-year contract worth a reported $52 million.^[6] He made a successful transition to the National League, with a .301 batting average, .399 on-base percentage, 33 home runs, and 115 RBI in 2005. At the same time, he shared the major league lead in errors for a first baseman, with 14.

Following the 2005 season, the Marlins performed one of their periodic salary-cutting maneuvers. In the "market correction", they unloaded some of their higher paid players. On November 23, 2005, the Marlins sent Delgado and $7 million to the New York Mets for Mike Jacobs, Yusmeiro Petit and Grant Psomas.

New York Mets[link]

2006 season[link]

Delgado responded well as the feared cleanup hitter for the Mets, hitting 38 home runs and driving in 114 runs throughout 2006. With Delgado hitting between fellow Puerto Rican Carlos Beltran and star third baseman David Wright, the Mets had the best record in the National League in 2006, but lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Championship Series, 4–3. At season's end, with 407, Delgado was tied with Duke Snider for 41st place for lifetime home runs. Through 2006, Delgado was the all-time leader for interleague play RBIs with 131, and second all-time in home runs with 43.

2007 season[link]

Carlos Delgado had early struggles in the 2007 season, with his batting average falling below .200 in April, but his numbers improved as the season progressed. On May 9, 2007, he hit a home run into McCovey Cove during a game against the San Francisco Giants, becoming the only visiting player to have hit three splash home runs at AT&T Park. Delgado ended the season tied with Cal Ripken, Jr. for 37th place on the all-time career home run list with 431.

2008 season[link]

During spring training 2008, Delgado was diagnosed with a hip impingement, however, the Mets decided to keep him on the active roster. As in the previous year, Delgado began the season in an offensive slump with a .204 batting average in April, and hitting just three home runs, but once again his stats improved as the season continued. In May, his batting average increased to .235 with five home runs. On June 15, 2008, Delgado broke Juan González's record for most runs batted in by a Puerto Rican player.^[7] On June 27, Delgado set a new Mets record with 9 RBIs in an interleague game versus the New York Yankees, breaking Dave Kingman's club record of 8.^[8] In the final game before the All-Star break Delgado hit his 17th home run of the season.^[9] Between June and July his batting average improved, raising to .260 with 19 home runs. Between July 23–31, Delgado hit four home runs.^{[10][11][12][13]}

On August 21, 2008 against the Atlanta Braves, Delgado went 5 for 5 with 3 singles, 3 RBI, a double, and a walk-off RBI single scoring David Wright in the bottom of the ninth off the glove of left fielder Omar Infante. It was the first time he had gone 5 for 5 in 10 years. The Mets swept a three games series from the Braves. On August 25, 2008 against the Houston Astros, Delgado fired two 3-run homers, one to left field and the other to deep center field, to take the Mets to a 9–1 victory in the finale of the series.^[14] On September 7 he became the third Mets player in history to have at least 65 RBIs in a 65 game stretch during a season. On September 9, he tied Dave Kingman's record of most multi home run games during a season as a Met with 7. Delgado notched his 2,000th career hit on September 21, 2008 against the Atlanta Braves. On October 31 the Mets exercised Delgado's $12 million option.^[15] Delgado was ninth in the voting for the 2008 National League MVP Award, behind Albert Pujols, Ryan Howard, Ryan Braun, Manny Ramirez, Lance Berkman, CC Sabathia, David Wright and Brad Lidge.^[16]

2009 season[link]

Delgado was the first Major League player to hit a home run into the Pepsi Porch at Citi Field. On May 18, 2009, the Mets announced that Delgado had a bone spur and a torn labrum in his hip, and he would have to undergo surgery.^[17] The Mets reported on May 19, 2009, that the surgery was successful and Delgado would be out for approximately ten weeks, which would delay Delgado's quest for 500 home runs.^[18] However, he did not play again in 2009.

Delgado filed for free agency on November 5, 2009.^[19] Delgado made his return to the Puerto Rico Baseball League (PRBL) for the 2009 season, registering a batting average of .364 and one home run in his first three games.^[20]

2010 free agency[link]

In February 2010, Delgado underwent another hip operation, this time to reconstruct the labrum on his right hip; he also underwent a micro-fracture procedure on his hip socket. Although Delgado had reportedly received interest from major league clubs (including the Mets and the Florida Marlins), he felt pain in his hip, and decided to undergo the second surgery to be better prepared for the coming season. According to his agent, David Sloane, Delgado "felt, despite the time it would take, it was a better option for him to be the Carlos Delgado of old instead of an old Carlos Delgado."^[21]

Red Sox[link]

On August 7, 2010, the Boston Red Sox signed Delgado to a minor league contract.^[22] Delgado played 5 games with the triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox between August 9 and 15, collecting 3 singles in 13 at-bats (.231, 0 HR, 2 RBI). This was the entire extent of Delgado's 2010 season after Delgado suffered a setback with his surgically repaired hip.^[23]

Retirement[link]

On April 13, 2011, Delgado officially announced his retirement from professional baseball after 17 years. Delgado announced his retirement in San Juan, Puerto Rico.^[24][25]

Personal life[link]

Delgado lives in his hometown of Aguadilla, Puerto Rico during the off-season. He is married to Betzaida García, who is also from Aguadilla.^[1] They have a son, Carlos Antonio, and in 2010 adopted a baby daughter, Mariana Isabel.^[26]

Social activism[link]

Like his hero, Roberto Clemente, Delgado is a well-known peace activist, and has been open about his political beliefs. As part of the Navy-Vieques protests, Delgado was actively opposed to the use of the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico as a bombing target practice facility by the United States Department of Defense, until bombing was halted in 2003. He is also against the occupation of Iraq. In the 2004 season, Delgado protested the war by silently staying in the dugout during the playing of "God Bless America" during the seventh inning stretch. Delgado does not make a public show of his beliefs, and even his teammates were not aware of his views until a story was published in July 2004 in the Toronto Star. Delgado was quoted as saying "It's a very terrible thing that happened on September 11. It's (also) a terrible thing that happened in Afghanistan and Iraq, ... I just feel so sad for the families that lost relatives and loved ones in the war. But I think it's the stupidest war ever." The story was the subject of a media frenzy, mostly in New York, where on July 21, 2004, as was anticipated, Delgado was booed by Yankee fans for his passive protest during a game at Yankee Stadium.^[27] Delgado had explained that the playing of "God Bless America" had come to be equated with a war in which he didn't believe. In a New York Times interview, Delgado said this is what he believed in, and "It takes a man to stand up for what he believes." After being traded to the Mets, in a conciliatory measure, Delgado opted to stand during the singing of "God Bless America."

Among other charity work, Delgado is well known for his generous visits to hospitals in his hometown where, on Three Kings Day, he brings toys to hospitalized children. In 2006, he joined Puerto Rico's Senate President in co-sponsoring a massive Three Kings gift-giving effort in the town of Loíza. Delgado started his own non-profit organization, "Extra Bases" to assist island youth. In 2007, Delgado donated video conference equipment to allow his hometown's Buen Samaritano Hospital to establish a regular link with a hospital in Boston in order to allow for remote diagnoses through telemedicine.

Delgado has also contributed to improving Puerto Rico's public education system. In 2007, he participated in "Sapientis Week", an initiative sponsored by the non-profit Sapientis which brings distinguished public figures into classrooms in order to raise the public's awareness of the education crisis in Puerto Rico. Delgado taught a class on Athletic Mental Training and Health at the Ramon Power y Giralt School in the Luis Llorens Torres public housing complex.

For his efforts, Delgado was awarded the Roberto Clemente Award in 2006. The award goes to the player in baseball who best exemplifies humanitarianism and sportsmanship, and was named after Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente in 1973. Prior to the 2008 season of the Puerto Rico Baseball League, Delgado was involved in an initiative to provide economic help to the Indios de Mayagüez team.^[28]

Awards and honors[link]

• 3-time AL Silver Slugger Award (1999, 2000, 2003)
• 2-time AL All-Star (2000, 2003)
• 2000 AL Hank Aaron Award
• 2000 TSN Player of the Year Award
• 2006 Roberto Clemente Award

See also[link]

• Afro-Puerto Ricans
• List of Major League Baseball home run records
• List of Major League Baseball doubles records
• List of top 300 Major League Baseball home run hitters
• List of Major League Baseball players with 400 doubles
• List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 runs
• List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 RBI
• List of Major League Baseball players with 2000 hits
• List of Major League Baseball RBI champions
• List of Major League Baseball doubles champions
• MLB hitters with four home runs in one game

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Carlos Delgado

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube
• The Silencing of Carlos Delgado An article about Carlos Delgado's stance on the Iraqi War in The Nation

Ian Desmond
Washington Nationals – No. 20
Shortstop
Born: (1985-09-20) September 20, 1985 (age 26) Sarasota, Florida
Bats: Right	Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 10, 2009 for the Washington Nationals
Career statistics (through May 27, 2012)
Batting average	.263
Home runs	30
Runs batted in	149
Teams
Washington Nationals (2009–present)

Ian M. Desmond (born September 20, 1985 in Sarasota, Florida) is a shortstop for the Washington Nationals . He was selected by the Montreal Expos in the third round of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft and signed on June 16.

Desmond was named the 19th best prospect and the best defensive shortstop in the South Atlantic League by Baseball America at the end of 2005.

Professional career[link]

Minor Leagues[link]

Desmond batted .227 with one home run and 27 RBIs for the Gulf Coast League Expos in 2004. He was second in the Gulf Coast League with 216 at-bats and fifth in stolen bases with 13. He had a .250 batting average with one home run and one RBI in four games for Class-A Short-Season Vermont Expos.

In 2005 Desmond batted .247 with four home runs and 23 RBIs in 73 games for Class-A Savannah Sand Gnats. He added a career-high 20 stolen bases. Desmond had a .256 batting average with three home runs and 15 RBIs in 55 games for the Class-A Advanced Potomac Nationals. At seasons end was named the best defensive shortstop in the South Atlantic League in Baseball America's top tools survey of league managers. He ranked 19th best prospect in the SAL by Baseball America.

Desmond batted .244 with a career-high nine home runs and 45 RBIs for Class-A Advanced Potomac. He scored 50 runs and had 20 doubles in 92 games. He had a .182 batting average with no home runs and three RBIs for the Double-A Harrisburg Senators.

He spent the 2007 season with Class A Advanced Potomac in the Carolina League and set career highs in home runs with 14, average with a .264 clip, on-base percentage with .357 and doubles with 30. Desmond slugged his first homer of the season on April 17. He went 3-for-5 with a home run, double, three RBIs and scored twice on April 20. He homered in consecutive games on July 28 and 29 and August 12 and 13.

In 2008 he played for Double-A Harrisburg, and started the year there in 2009. In his three months there he batted .306 and, in June, was promoted to the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs, and in 55 games batted .354.^[1] After the minor league season ended, he was called up to the Nationals.

Major Leagues[link]

He played his first major league game on September 10, 2009. He had his first hit, a double, and RBI during his second at bat. He later went on to hit his first home run during the same game.^[2] He followed that up with a 4-for-4 game, and become only the second player ever (along with Guy Sturdy of the 1927 St. Louis Browns) to record at least six hits and four RBI in his first two games as a major leaguer.^[3]

On March 28, 2010, after a solid spring training in which he led the team in RBI's, Desmond was awarded the Nationals' starting shortstop job, beating out incumbent Cristian Guzmán.^[4][5] His first full year was a bit erratic. He booted the first ball that came to him, and in the next game hit the first home run of the season for the Nationals. Desmond ended up having a very good rookie season, batting .269 with 10 home runs and 65 runs batted in, while stealing 17 bases.^[6]

On Opening Day, 2012, Desmond started at shortstop and hit leadoff for the Nationals, who played at the Cubs. Desmond went 3-5 with an RBI and a run. After scoring the game-tying run in the top of the 8th, Desmond hit a go-ahead single to right field, plating pinch-runner Brett Carroll, which gave the Nationals the lead. They would hold on to win 2-1.^[7]

References[link]