Ian Desmond facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ian Desmond |
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Desmond with the Colorado Rockies in 2018
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| Shortstop / Outfielder | |||
| Born: September 20, 1985 Sarasota, Florida, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 10, 2009, for the Washington Nationals | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 29, 2019, for the Colorado Rockies | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .263 | ||
| Home runs | 181 | ||
| Runs batted in | 711 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Ian Morgan Desmond (born September 20, 1985) is a former American professional baseball player. He played for 11 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). Ian was a shortstop and outfielder for the Washington Nationals, Texas Rangers, and Colorado Rockies.
He won the Silver Slugger Award three times. This award goes to the best offensive player at each position. He was also chosen for the MLB All-Star Game twice. Early in his career, Ian mostly played shortstop. Later, he also played left field, center field, and first base.
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Baseball Career Highlights
Starting in the Minor Leagues
Ian Desmond was picked by the Montreal Expos in the 2004 MLB draft. He started his professional journey in the minor leagues. These are lower levels of baseball where players develop their skills.
In 2004, he played for the Gulf Coast League Expos. He had 13 stolen bases, which means he ran to the next base after hitting the ball. The next year, he played for the Class-A Savannah Sand Gnats. He stole 20 bases, a personal best. He was also named the best defensive shortstop in his league.
Ian continued to play in different minor league teams. In 2006, he hit a career-high nine home runs for the Potomac Nationals. A home run is when a player hits the ball out of the field, scoring a run. By 2008, he was playing for the Harrisburg Senators. In 2009, he moved up to the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs. He played very well there, hitting .354. After that, he was called up to the Washington Nationals.
Playing for the Washington Nationals
Ian Desmond made his first appearance in Major League Baseball on September 10, 2009. In his second time at bat, he got his first hit and his first RBI. An RBI means he helped a teammate score a run. He also hit his first career home run in that game. He then had a great game, getting four hits out of four tries.
In 2010, Ian became the starting shortstop for the Nationals. He finished the season hitting .269 with 10 home runs. He also had 65 RBIs and stole 17 bases. In 2011, he stole a career-high 25 bases.
In 2012, Ian changed his uniform number to 20 to honor a famous player, Frank Robinson. He was chosen for the 2012 All-Star Game. This is a special game where the best players from different teams play together. However, he couldn't play because of an injury.
Ian became a very strong hitter. He set a team record for shortstops with 18 home runs. He also became the first Nationals player since 2006 to join the "20 home run – 20 steal club." This means he hit at least 20 home runs and stole at least 20 bases in one season. For his great hitting, he won a Silver Slugger Award in 2012.
He won the Silver Slugger Award again in 2013. He had another "20 home run – 20 steal" season. Before the 2014 season, the Nationals offered him a big contract, but he chose a shorter deal. He won his third straight Silver Slugger Award in 2014.
In 2015, Ian had a tougher season. He became a free agent at the end of the year. This means he could sign with any team he wanted.
Time with the Texas Rangers
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In 2016, Ian Desmond signed a one-year contract with the Texas Rangers. He was expected to play mostly in the outfield for them. He was chosen as an American League All-Star to represent the Rangers. He finished the 2016 season hitting .285 with 22 home runs and 86 RBIs. The Rangers made it to the playoffs but lost to the Blue Jays.
Playing for the Colorado Rockies
On December 13, 2016, Ian signed a five-year contract with the Colorado Rockies. During spring training in 2017, he broke a bone in his left hand. He started playing for the Rockies in April 2017, mostly in left field.
In 2018, he hit .236. In 2019, he hit .255 with 20 home runs and 65 RBIs. He hit a very long home run that year, measuring 486 feet.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ian chose not to play in the 2020 and 2021 MLB seasons. He decided to put his family first during that time. He became a free agent in November 2021. On April 16, 2022, Ian Desmond officially announced that he was retiring from professional baseball.
Life Outside of Baseball
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Ian Desmond is married to Chelsey, whom he met in fifth grade. They have five children. When his first child was born, Ian was one of the first players to take paternity leave. This is time off for new fathers. His family lives in Sarasota, Florida.
Ian is involved in community work. He served on the board of the Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy. This academy helps young people learn baseball. He is also a national spokesperson for the Children's Tumor Foundation. This foundation helps children with tumors.
In 2020, Ian co-founded Newtown Connection. This non-profit group helps young people in his hometown of Sarasota. It offers programs for learning, physical activity, and health. The goal is to help kids develop good character and live active lives.
Ian Desmond is related to Viola Desmond, a Canadian civil rights activist. He was raised Catholic.
