Well, the Nationals traded former Illini pitcher Tanner Roark to the Reds last year.
So we didn’t have that rooting interest.
But don’t fear!
Nationals GM Mike Rizzo was once a graduate assistant coach with Illinois back in 1984 before becoming a scout. That came after a three-year playing career in the minors.
Rizzo has been the Nats GM since 2009 and was promoted to the President of Baseball Operations in 2013. Rizzo, 58, is a Chicago native and played his college ball at Saint Xavier.
And he built this team. He got his deep pitching staff.