For the Nationals -- in a season that saw their club get decimated by injuries en route to losing 102 games -- their silver lining came in a 6-foot-5, 200-plus-pound frame that threw with pinpoint control from the left side.

His name is John Lannan. And he wasn't just a bright spot for Washington in 2008 -- he can be the franchise's ace for years to come.

On Thursday, something Nationals fans already knew -- that Lannan is one of the top young pitchers in baseball -- was further solidified when the 24-year-old left-hander was named to the 50th annual Topps Major League Rookie All-Star Team.

Topps annually selects the top rookies at each position, as well as the best left- and right-handed pitchers. Rounding out the team were Reds first baseman Joey Votto, White Sox second baseman Alexei Ramirez, Rays third baseman Evan Longoria, Royals shortstop Mike Aviles, Cubs catcher Geovany Soto, Athletics right-hander Brad Ziegler, and outfielders Jay Bruce (Reds), Denard Span (Twins) and David Murphy (Rangers).

Lannan turned in one of the top rookie seasons in franchise history, hurling 182 innings over 31 starts and posting a 3.91 ERA. But the Long Island, N.Y., native, who has often been compared to veteran left-hander Jamie Moyer, didn't do it with overpowering stuff.

Instead, he relied on excellent location and good pitch selection.

"My favorite pitch is a strike," Lannan once said. "That is the best pitch in the game."

Lannan led all big league rookies and tied for eighth in the National League with 21 quality starts, which was the third-highest total by a Washington pitcher and tied for the fifth-highest rookie total in the past 23 years, beginning with the 1986 season. He finished high among this season's freshman in wins (tied for sixth), ERA (fourth) and starts (tied for third), while also ranking among the top rookies with 182 innings (fifth), 112 strikeouts (fifth) and a .252 opponents' batting average (third).

And Lannan's record could've been a whole lot better. Seven times this season, Lannan turned in a quality start -- pitching at least six innings while surrendering no more than three earned runs -- but ended up with a loss.

"He has the knack to make pitches when he has to, despite his age," Nationals manager Manny Acta said during the season. "It's a good asset to have, especially when you're that young. It says a lot about him."

Lannan was selected by the Nationals in the 11th round of the 2005 First-Year Player Draft out of Siena College in New York. After posting a 1.66 ERA in seven games for Triple-A Columbus in 2007, he was called up to the big club in late July of that year and never looked back.

Now, he's here to stay.

"This young guy is absolutely just making sure that we know he's part of our future here," Acta said. "He goes out there, regardless of his stuff any given day, and gives us a chance to win."

The Topps Rookie All-Star team began in 1959, with Willie McCovey being the first of 15 future Hall of Famers named to the squad. The Rookie All-Stars will each have a trophy on their 2009 trading card in Topps Baseball, with Series One due out in early February.

Lannan is the 21st member of the Nationals/Montreal Expos franchise to be named to the team. Ryan Zimmerman was the latest in 2006, and former third baseman Coco Laboy was the first in 1969. Six members of the Washington Senators made the team, too, with outfielder Bob Allison being the first honored in 1959.