One of only 14 players in major league baseball history from Curacao, Roger Bernadina developed from a raw, toolsy teenage prospect into the most popular 4th outfielder in Washington Nationals franchise history.

Signed by the Montreal Expos as a nondrafted free agent in 2001 at the age of 17, Bernadina spent seven long seasons toiling in the minor leagues before making his major league debut on June 29, 2008 for the Washington Nationals. Bernadina singled in his first major league at-bat, lashing a hit to right field. He played 26 games with the Nationals in 2008, setting himself up to have a role on the big league roster the next season.

2009 saw Bernadina begin the season in the minor leagues before being recalled to Washington on Tax Day, April 15th. In his third major league game of the season, on April 18th, Bernadina made one of the greatest catches on Nationals’ history against the Florida Marlins, crashing into the wall to make a heroic catch. The result of this effort caused him to fracture his right ankle and immediately ended his season. This play would also result in Bernadina forever earning his nickname “The Shark”.

He spent the rest of 2009 rehabilitating from this devastating injury, with the goal of carving out a role on the roster in 2010. Bernadina accomplished this, playing 134 games for the Nationals in 2010, hitting .246/.307/.384 with 11 home runs and 16 stolen bases. In a difficult season on the field for Washington, the then 26-year-old Bernadina established himself as one of the bright spots in the organization and a building block for the future.

Unfortunately he was not able to build off his success the previous year, as Bernadina played only 91 games in 2011, hitting .243/.301/.362 along with 7 home runs and 17 stolen bases for the Nationals. However, Bernadina did not let this disappointing season spoil 2012, as he and the Nationals surprised all of baseball by winning 98 games and capturing the National League East title. Bernadina was a major part of this team, playing 129 games for the Nationals while hitting .291/.372/.405 and playing all three outfield positions. His presence as a versatile left-handed hitter with speed made him a crucial piece for this breakthrough team.

Once again Bernadina struggled to capitalize on a successful season, posting a .178/.247/.270 batting line in 85 games and 152 at-bats for the disappointing 2013 Washington Nationals. This poor performance from Bernadina did not help the Nationals overcome a rash of injuries during the early part of the season. On August 19, 2013 the Nationals released Bernadina to make room on the roster for newly acquired OF David DeJesus, ending his career in Washington.
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Two days later Bernadina signed with division rival Philadelphia, playing 27 games for the Phillies down the stretch, hitting .187/.256/.347 with 2 home runs. After this cameo in Philadelphia, the Phillies outrighted him off their 40-man roster in October, making him again a free agent.

Bernadina signed a minor league contract with a spring training invitation with the Cincinnati Reds a few months later, using this opportunity to make their Opening Day roster. He bounced between Triple-A and the majors for Cincinnati, hitting .153/.286/.203 in 59 at-bats with the Reds before his release on June 27, 2014.

10 days later on July 7th Bernadina signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, hitting .246 in 23 games before being promoted when rosters expand in September. He only received 7 at-bats in his time with the Dodgers, collecting one home run and two hits in these limited opportunities.

After the 2014 season Bernadina elected free agency and signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies in late December. Bernadina spent the entire 2015 season with Colorado’s Triple-A team, the Albuquerque Isotopes, hitting .276/.383/.466 with 15 home runs and 20 stolen bases over 119 games played. Still only 31-years-old, Bernadina enters this offseason again in a familiar position, seeking a minor league deal with the opportunity to make a roster during spring training.

Still fondly remembered to Nationals’ fans as “The Shark”, “Sharkadina” or other variations of “Shark“, Bernadina quickly became a fan-favorite to those in NatsTown because of his affable personality, constant hustle and infectious smile. Not to mention his key role in the first division-winning team since baseball returned to Washington in 2005.

To date Bernadina has spent 7 seasons in the major leagues, playing 548 games with a .236/.307/.354 batting line and slugging 28 homers along with 59 stolen bases – the majority of which were while he was in Washington. Perhaps these numbers do not deserve induction into Washington Baseball’s Ring of Honor, but Bernadina is a cult hero in Nationals history and deserves a “Roger Bernadina Night” at Nationals Park in the future. Long Live The Shark in NatsTown!