Ian Morgan Desmond was born on September 20,1985 and is an American former professional baseball infielder and outfielder.
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29 Facts About Ian Desmond
2.
Ian Desmond played 11 seasons in Major League Baseball for the Washington Nationals, Texas Rangers and Colorado Rockies.
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3.
Ian Desmond was second in the Gulf Coast League with 216 at-bats and fifth in stolen bases with 13.
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4.
Ian Desmond was ranked as the 19th best prospect in the SAL by Baseball America.
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5.
In 2008, Ian Desmond played for Harrisburg and started the year there in 2009.
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6.
Ian Desmond followed that up with a 4-for-4 game, and become only the second player ever to record at least six hits and four RBI in his first two games as a major leaguer.
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7.
On March 28,2010, after a solid spring training in which he led the team in RBIs, Desmond earned the Nationals' starting shortstop job, beating out incumbent Cristian Guzman.
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8.
Ian Desmond booted the first ball that came to him and in the next game, hit the first home run of the season for the Nationals.
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9.
Ian Desmond switched his uniform number to 20 at the beginning of the 2012 season to honor Frank Robinson.
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10.
On Opening Day, Ian Desmond started at shortstop and hit leadoff for the Nationals, who played at the Cubs.
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11.
Ian Desmond was selected for the 2012 All Star Game, his first such selection.
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12.
Ian Desmond was second in the National League, and seventh in the majors, in percent of pitches swung at in the 2012 season.
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13.
On September 24, Ian Desmond became the first Nationals player since 2006 to join the 20 home run – 20 steal club when he stole his 20th base.
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14.
Ian Desmond was awarded a Silver Slugger for his offensive prowess in the 2012 season.
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15.
In 2013, Ian Desmond repeated both his 20 home run – 20 steal season and his Silver Slugger Award.
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16.
Ian Desmond declined the offer and instead signed a two-year, $17.
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17.
Ian Desmond struggled both offensively and defensively throughout the 2015 season.
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18.
Ian Desmond was expected to play primarily in the outfield rather than as a shortstop for the Rangers.
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19.
Ian Desmond made his first appearances in left and center field during Cactus League action in March 2016.
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20.
Ian Desmond was selected as an American League All-Star to represent the Rangers at the 2016 Major League Baseball All-Star Game in San Diego along with teammate Cole Hamels.
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21.
On December 13,2016, Ian Desmond signed a five-year, $70 million contract with the Colorado Rockies, with a team option for a 6th year.
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22.
On June 10,2019, Ian Desmond hit the fifth-longest home run of the 2019 season at Coors Field with a 486-foot home run off of Mike Montgomery.
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23.
On February 21,2021, Ian Desmond announced via his Instagram page that he had decided to opt out of the 2021 season.
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24.
Ian Desmond forfeited his salary in both the 2020 and 2021 seasons by opting out, which essentially turned his 5 year, $70 million contract into a 3 year, $45 million contract.
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25.
Ian Desmond became a free agent on November 4,2021 after the Rockies declined the $15 million option for the 2022 season, instead paying him a $2 million buyout.
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26.
Ian Desmond was the Rockies' nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award in each of his 5 seasons with the Rockies for his community work and philanthropic efforts off the field.
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27.
In January 2010, Ian Desmond married his wife Chelsey, whom he met in the fifth grade.
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28.
When his first child was born, Ian Desmond became one of the first players to claim paternity leave, which had just been introduced to MLB.
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29.
Ian Desmond is a national spokesperson for the Children's Tumor Foundation.
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