Ian Desmond: "I'm extremely proud to say that I was a Washington National"

FLUSHING, N.Y. - Ian Desmond stood up in front of his locker as reporters approached. The bright lights of the cameras popped on reflecting off of the welling tears in Desmond's eyes. Desmond, the only player left from the organization's move from Montreal to D.C., had just finished playing most likely his final game with the Nationals.

"When I got drafted by the Expos, they didn't know where the team would be," Desmond said fighting back tears. "But they couldn't have found a better home. I'm extremely proud to say that I was a Washington National."

With the overwhelming emotions, Desmond paused several times while attempting to get the words out. The free-agent-to-be was asked if he wants to stay in Washington.

"I think at this particular moment, there's a lot of things to be discussed," Desmond said. "This organization has been nothing but good to me. We've come a long way, a long way personally and as an organization."

Desmond played seven years, becoming a mainstay at shortstop, after debuting as a 23-year-old with the Nationals on Sept. 10, 2009. He has hit .264 with 110 homers, 432 RBIs and 121 stolen bases in his career, leading to three straight Silver Slugger Awards form 2012-2014. Desmond made his lone All-Star team in 2012 when he smacked 25 home runs, drilled 33 doubles and batted .292.

"You become really close with all the time we spend together, all the games we play together," said Jayson Werth, Desmond's teammate since 2011. "It's gonna be tough."

Desmond, who reportedly passed on a seven-year, $107 million contract extension prior to the 2014 season, is likely to be replaced by rookie Trea Turner, one of baseball's highly-regarded prospects.

Desmond is a true leader in the clubhouse. Before his final game, he walked up the grease board, simply writing "Chapel 1:30 p.m." Over the years he's spent time mentoring younger players like Bryce Harper while also playing role model to the inner city kids at the Nationals Youth Academy in Southeast D.C.

Asked to reflect on some of the more positive moments on his time in Washington, Desmond immediately focused on the maturation of the Nationals' young superstar.

"I think one of the bigger ones is kind of watching Harp grow up a little bit," Desmond said, again getting choked up. "It's been fun to play a part in his career."

Harper has repeatedly pointed to Desmond's mentoring as a key part of his process to becoming one of the game's best players since entering the league as a 19-year-old.

"I'm going to miss him," Harper said. "If he doesn't come back, I'm definitely going to miss him. He's family to me. Definitely one of my brothers. I'm going to miss him all around. The way he fights out there. The way he plays. The way he goes about it. He's just a good person through and through. He's a great ambassador for the Washington Nationals."

With a contract year hanging over his head, Desmond struggled throughout the first half of the season. He hit just .211 with only seven homers and 24 RBIs before the All-Star break while making a whopping 20 errors.

But Desmond picked it up after the Midsummer Classic, batting .261 with 12 home runs and 38 RBIs. He fell one longball short of his fourth straight 20-homer season.

"Just that we never stopped playing," Desmond said. "No matter what, we kept on grinding away. Obviously, no one wants to sit here and play pity party, but it was a tough year. We overcame a lot. Not enough, but I'm extremely proud of the way we handled our business."

Before leaving, Desmond was asked for his opinion on the future of the franchise.

"I think when you have character people around, good things are bound to happen," Desmond said. "There are a lot of good players here, a lot of good coaches in the organization."

That is certainly true, but if Desmond leaves for another team, the Nationals will lose a player with quite possibly the highest level of character.