Ian Desmond ‘forever’ proud of what Nationals have built

WASHINGTON — Another member of the 2015 Washington Nationals is bidding farewell.

Ian Desmond, who has spent his entire career with the Nationals, tweeted on Wednesday that “words can’t describe how grateful I am” for the 12 years he spent in the Nationals organization, and that he’ll “forever be proud of what we built here.”

“Practically half my life shaped by unbelievable men and women within the Washington Nationals organization,” Desmond says.

He adds that “many of my best memories came in a Nationals uniform.” He specifically mentions his 2009 major league debut, which saw him boot his first ground ball, hit a double and a homer and get a pie to the face, as well as the moment in 2012 when carried his youngest son down the first-base line the night the Nationals wrapped up their first playoff spot.

Desmond was very active in the Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy, and adds, “My greatest hope is that the kids of DC will one day say the same: ‘Many of my greatest memories came in a Nationals uniform.’”

The shortstop finishes the last year of his Nationals contract and becomes a free agent Nov. 1. He’s not expected to return to the team.