Nationals invite Livan Hernandez, Adam and Drake LaRoche to throw out first pitches in NLDS Games 1-2

According to multiple reports this afternoon, the Washington Nationals have invited Livan Hernandez and Adam LaRoche (with his son Drake) to throw out the first pitch for each of the two NLDS games with the Los Angeles Dodgers this weekend in the nation’s capital.

Hernandez, who came with the franchise from Montreal, played two seasons in D.C. in 2005-2006 before returning to Washington for three seasons (2009-2011), winning a total of 70 games for the Expos/Nationals during his 17-year career.

Hernandez was the Opening Day starter for the Nationals when baseball returned to D.C. in ‘05, and one of two All-Stars for the Nats in the inaugural season.

Adam LaRoche, who played first for the Nationals between 2011-2014, putting up a .249/.341/.441 line with 77 doubles and 82 HRs in 489 games and 2,000 PAs over the course of his time in D.C., will return with his son Drake, a fixture in the clubhouse in those seasons, to throw out the first pitch in Game 2.

LaRoche, of course, retired at the start of the 2016 campaign when there was a dispute over the time his son spent in the Chicago White Sox’ clubhouse.

Hernandez and LaRoche were popular with fans and teammates during their time in the nation’s capital, and Hernandez even returned to help out as an advisor in Spring Training a few seasons back.

In previous seasons, the Nationals had Frank Robinson (who managed the Nationals in 2005-2006) and former Washington Senator Frank Howard throw out first pitches in NLDS games in D.C. in 2012 and 2014, respectively.

Who is going to get the bigger pop from the crowd in Nationals Park? Livan or Adam and Drake?