7 Baseball Players who Played for Red Sox and Nationals
There is a good chance that if you’ve found this page then you’re playing the Immaculate Grid.
That also means that today’s grid has asked for players that have played for both the Boston Red Sox and Washington Nationals.
And, it also means that you’re probably stuck on this particular box and you’re looking for a little help. Sound about right so far?
Well, good news, you’re in the right place.
I’ve done some research and have found players who played on both the Red Sox and Nationals.
Jon Lester
Jon Lester was a powerhouse pitcher in baseball from 2006 until 2021. He’s thrown for the Red Sox, Cubs, Nationals, Cardinals and Athletics. Lester was a part of the Red Sox’s World Series wins in ’07 and ’13, and also helped the Cubs break their 108-year championship drought in 2016.
He finished his career with exactly 200 wins and struck out more than 2,400 batters. Lester was also a 5-time All-Star and NLCS MVP.
Jonathan Papelbon
Jonathan Papelbon’s career is marked by his impressive performances as a closer, primarily for the Boston Red Sox and the Philadelphia Phillies. He made his major league debut in 2005, and by the end of his career in 2016, he had recorded 368 saves with an ERA of 2.44.
Papelbon was a key player in the Red Sox’s 2007 World Series win and was even named the World Series MVP that year. His accolades include six All-Star selections.
Papelbon also holds the record for most saves in both Red Sox and Phillies history, solidifying his legacy as one of the elite closers of his era.
Papelbon Key Stats
- All-Star (Red Sox, Phillies)
- 300+ Career Saves
- 40+ Saves Season (Red Sox)
Kyle Schwarber
Kyle Schwarber is a left-handed hitting slugger who primarily plays as a left fielder and designated hitter. He debuted in the MLB in 2015 with the Chicago Cubs. Schwarber is known for his power at the plate, with career highlights including a .480 slugging percentage through the 2022 season.
He had a memorable 2015 postseason, belting five home runs in just nine games. However, he suffered a significant knee injury early in the 2016 season but made a dramatic return during the World Series the same year, helping the Cubs to their first championship in over a century.
Schwarber has since played for the Nationals, Red Sox and Phillies, continuing to add to his career totals of over 225 home runs and 500 RBIs.
Schwarber Key Stats
- All-Star (Nationals, Phillies)
- Silver Slugger (Phillies)
- 40+ Home Run Season (Phillies)
Bartolo Colon
Bartolo Colon, affectionately known as “Big Sexy”, was a fixture on the mound in baseball from 1997 until 2018. He played for a whole bunch of teams (11), which makes him an extremely versatile player for the Immaculate Grid.
Colon’s career stops included the Indians (now Guardians), Dodgers, Mets, Athletics, White Sox, Twins, Braves, Red Sox, Rangers, Montreal Expos and Yankees.
Colon was a 4-time All-Star and even bagged a Cy Young Award in 2005. He had over 240 wins and more than 2,500 strikeouts.
Colon Key Stats
- Cy Young (Angels)
- All-Star (Indians, Angels, Athletics, Mets)
- 20+ Win Season (Angels)
Jonny Gomes
Jonny Gomes, who played from 2003 to 2015, is best known for his time as an outfielder with the Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox.
In his 13-year career, Gomes accumulated over 800 hits, hit 162 home runs, and maintained a .242 career batting average. A key figure in the clubhouse, he was part of the 2013 World Series-winning Red Sox team and is remembered for his pivotal home run in Game 4 of the series.
His best season came in 2005 with the Rays when he hit .282 with 21 home runs and 54 RBIs.
Matt Stairs
Matt Stairs had a lengthy Major League career that spanned from 1992 to 2011, during which he played for 12 different teams, essentially making him an Immaculate Grid Hall-of-Famer.
Known for his power-hitting abilities, primarily as a pinch-hitter, he hit 265 home runs over his career and holds the record for the most pinch-hit home runs in MLB history with 23. Stairs had a career batting average of .262 with an OPS of .832, and recorded 899 RBIs.
Notably, in the 2008 postseason with the Philadelphia Phillies, he hit one of the most famous home runs in Phillies history, helping the team move onto the World Series that year.
Otis Nixon
Otis Nixon was a speedy outfielder whose career went from 1983 to 1999. Over those 17 seasons, Nixon played for 9 different teams – Braves, Indians (now Guardians), Montreal Expos, Blue Jays, Twins, Red Sox, Rangers, Dodgers and Yankees.
Nixon wasn’t a big hitter, but he was a whiz on the basepaths, stealing over 620 bases during his career and maintaining a respectable .270 batting average. He’s best remembered for his daring steals and spectacular catches, including an unforgettable game-saving grab in 1992 while with the Braves (video above).
