Bryce Harper is probably coming to Washington. John Wall could quickly follow. And then the District will be home to three No. 1 overall draft picks — Harper, Wall and Stephen Strasburg — in the past 12 months. D.C. is undergoing a revolution and the kids have the power:
10. Ian Desmond, Nationals SS
He’s on pace to commit almost 30 errors this season, which is high, but not egregious when you consider the list of shortstops who have led the league in errors include Orlando Cabrera and Jason Bartlett. At the quarter pole of the MLB season, the 24-year-old is on pace to drive in 72 runs while mostly hitting from the back-end of the lineup.
Several players barely missed the cut. One stood out. Andray Blatche has long toed the line between budding superstar and knucklehead. But nothing quite compares with last season, when he alternated remarkable performances (31 points, 11 rebounds vs. Boston) with bizarre ones (16 minutes, zero shots, hissy fit on the bench vs. New Orleans). Blatche had 15 double-doubles in 2009-10, but also refused to play in a game and told off a team trainer in the Wizards’ locker room. He’s incredibly talented, but too inconsistent. Find a way to sustain the good production, ’Dray, and not only will you make this list, you’ll probably be near the top of it.
9. Chris Pontius, United M/F
A whopping 62 percent of United’s roster meets the age requirement for this list. But Pontius caught our attention for several reasons. The former first-round pick scored four goals and added three assists last season en route to being named a finalist for MLS rookie of the year. He also cracked the U.S. National team camp twice this past winter.
8. Crystal Langhorne, Mystics F/C
Fellow Mystic (and Terrapin) Marissa Coleman might have a higher ceiling, but Langhorne’s production warrants placement on this list. She became a starter and doubled her production last year, averaging 12 points and 7.9 rebounds in her second WNBA season. Langhorne’s 17.5 ppg and 8.5 rpg are a huge reason for Washington’s 2-0 start in 2010.
7. Semyon Varlamov, Capitals G
Varlamov cemented himself on this list a year ago when he turned in a spectacular relief appearance in the first round of the playoffs against the New York Rangers. He missed a good chunk of this season due to injury, but finished the year 15-4-6 with a 2.55 goals-against average. The 22-year-old should enter training camp as the favorite to start.
6. Mike Green, Capitals D
Green took a lot of flack for a poor showing in the playoffs (0 goals, 3 assists), but he remains the NHL’s best offensive defenseman. Green — who has scored 50 goals the past two seasons combined — was a plus-39 on the ice in 2009-10, the third-highest plus-minus rating in the NHL behind only teammates Jeff Schultz (+50) and Alex Ovechkin (+45).
5. Stephen Strasburg, Nationals P
The fact that Strasburg is even on this list — let alone in the top five — shows how much buzz truly surrounds him. The No. 1 overall pick out of San Diego State hasn’t yet appeared in a big league game, but his production in the minors suggests it won’t be that way for long. In eight minor league starts, Strasburg is 6-1 with a 0.89 ERA.
4. Brian Orakpo, Redskins DE/OLB
Ah, a productive football player under the age of 25. We were beginning to think the Redskins were allergic to those. Orakpo ended years of draft futility for the Skins by posting 11 sacks, 50 tackles and a forced fumble in 2009. He finished fourth in the NFL defensive rookie of the year voting.
3. Nicklas Backstrom, Capitals C
Moneybags earned every cent of that $67 million contract extension he signed last week, scoring 33 goals and adding 68 assists for a Caps team that won the President’s Trophy. Backstrom — a playmaking center who pairs perfectly with dynamic scorer Alex Ovechkin — tallied a hat trick in Washington’s Game 2 playoff win over the Montreal Canadiens.
2. Ryan Zimmerman, Nationals 3B
On a team that has had nothing, Zimmerman has been everything. The 2006 National League rookie of the year runner-up has become the best third baseman in the senior circuit. Z-Pack’s breakout year in 2009 — .292, 33 home runs, 106 RBIs — included his first All-Star Game appearance, Silver Slugger award and Gold Glove.
1. Alex Ovechkin, Capitals LW
Maybe in a few years Zimmerman or Strasburg will rival Ovechkin, but for now, the Great Eight’s star burns brightest. Forget the Montreal series — remember, it took Michael Jordan seven years to win his first NBA title — and focus instead on Ovechkin’s production (269 goals in five seasons), hardware (two MVP trophies) and magnetic personality.
