20. Livan Hernandez

Livan Hernandez was already renowned as a Cuban defector who earned both the NLCS and World Series MVP awards as a 22-year-old rookie with the 1997 Florida Marlins. He joined Montreal before the 2003 season following a trade from San Francisco. While many saw the move as a salary dump, Hernández viewed it as an opportunity for a remarkable, career-changing resurgence. Over the next four years, he became both literally and metaphorically the bridge that helped the franchise transition from Montreal to Washington.

His 2003 campaign for the Expos was a standout example of old-school volume pitching. During a time when modern baseball was quickly pulling starters earlier, Hernández ignored the trend and relied solely on his stamina. He overwhelmed opposing lineups by leading the National League with 233.0 innings pitched and eight complete games, finishing with a 15–10 record and a 3.21 ERA. In 2004, during the Expos' final summer in Quebec, he elevated his durability by pitching 255.0 innings, leading the league in nine complete games and 35 starts. This remarkable workload earned him his first All-Star selection and a Silver Slugger Award at the plate.

When the franchise officially relocated to the nation's capital ahead of the 2005 schedule, it was entirely fitting that the deathless right-hander threw the historic first pitch in Washington Nationals history. Hernández served as the face of the inaugural District squad, putting together a brilliant 15-win tour and leading the major leagues yet again with 246.1 grueling innings across 35 starts, securing a consecutive All-Star nod.

After a 2006 trade to Arizona and a short stint across multiple teams, Hernández made a notable return to Washington in late 2009 for a dramatic, late-stage career homecoming. He pitched with seasoned, soft-tossing accuracy, relying heavily on a nearly untouchable, changing-speed looping curveball and a low-80s sinking fastball, effectively defying aging norms. In 2010, he pitched 211 innings with a solid 3.67 ERA, serving as the main high-pressure reliever for the rebuilding Nationals before ending his storied chapter with the franchise in late 2011.

With Montreal/Washington, Hernandez compiled a 70–72 record, a 4.01 ERA, and a 1.35 WHIP. He threw 1,177.1 innings, recording 27 complete games, 5 shutouts, and 840 strikeouts.