Anthony Rendon

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Washington Nationals #1 prospect in 2013
  Rendon is one of the most accomplished college players of the last decade, and his rise to elite prospect status has been slowed only by a succession of injuries. A 27th-round pick by the Braves out of Houston's Lamar High in 2008, Rendon burst onto the national scene at Rice the following spring, hitting .388/.461/.702 with 20 homers to win Baseball America's Freshman of the Year award. He tore ligaments in his right ankle after stepping on a sprinkler head during NCAA super regionals that June, but he rebounded to hit .394/.530/.801 with 26 homers in 2010 to win BA College Player of the Year honors. Once again his summer was lost to injury, as he broke the same ankle while running the bases in his second game with the U.S. collegiate national team. A strained throwing shoulder largely limited him to DH duties as a junior, and he got few pitches to hit, leading NCAA Division I with 80 walks while producing just six homers. Rendon still ranked as the 2011 draft's top prospect, but uncertainty about his shoulder caused him to drop to the Nationals as the sixth overall pick. He signed a $7.2 million big league contract that including a $6 million bonus at the Aug. 15 deadline. After a stellar spring training, Rendon once more succumbed to the injury bug on April 7, slightly fracturing his left ankle while running the bases in his second pro game. He returned to action on July 19 and quickly reached Double-A Harrisburg, but he didn't truly find his stride until the Arizona Fall League, where he batted .338/.436/.494. Rendon stands out most for his strong, lightning-quick hands, which Rice coach Wayne Graham has often compared to those of Hank Aaron. Rendon's tension-free swing allows him to stay back and then whip his bat through the zone, generating hard line drives from foul pole to foul pole. He has excellent balance, advanced pitch recognition and a patient approach (as evidenced by his 176-78 BB-K ratio at Rice), though his timing and pitch selection were off somewhat in his injury-shortened 2012 pro debut. Though he isn't overly physical, he has enough leverage in his swing to hit 20 or more homers annually while contending for batting titles. Rendon compiled an impressive defensive highlight reel in college, and the Nationals have been impressed with his body control, hands, footwork and instincts. He had a plus arm at Rice, but it now rates as more of a solid tool. He also has lost a step or two after his three ankle injuries, making him a slightly below-average runner. If he can stay healthy, Rendon can an all-star third baseman with a middle-of-the-order bat and quality defensive skills. But with Ryan Zimmerman in his prime and locked into Washington's third-base job for the foreseeable future, Rendon figures to wind up elsewhere--perhaps second base, where he has played on occasion in college and in spring training. His solid athleticism and baseball savvy should allow him to adapt to a number of defensive positions, and his bat should make him an impact big leaguer. He figures to return to Double-A to start 2013, and he could get his first taste of the majors later in the year because his skills are advanced.
• 
  Ranked Washington Nationals #2 prospect in 2012
  Rendon won Baseball America's Freshman of the Year award in 2009, followed by College Player of the Year honors in 2010. A strained throwing shoulder limited him to mostly DH duties and sapped his power as a junior last spring, and while he still sat atop BA's draft prospect rankings, he slid to the Nationals at No. 6. He signed a big league contract worth $7.2 million (including a $6 million bonus) at the Aug. 15 deadline, and sat out games in instructional league while continuing to build up strength in his shoulder. Though he's not physically imposing, Rendon has remarkable strength in his hands and wrists, uncanny hand-eye coordination, outstanding plate coverage and exceptional pitch recognition. He consistently drives the ball hard to all fields and projects as a well above-average hitter with plus power. He has average speed despite torn ligaments in his right ankle in 2009 and a break in the same ankle in 2010, and he's smart on the basepaths. When healthy, Rendon has superb defensive instincts and actions, good range and an above-average arm. He has drawn comparisons to Evan Longoria, Ryan Zimmerman and David Wright. With Zimmerman entrenched at third base in Washington, Rendon eventually may shift to second base. His polished bat should carry him quickly through the minors.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Eastern League #8 prospect in 2013
  One of the bright spots of the Nationals? disappointing season was the best pro season by Rendon, who played third base almost exclusively with the Senators before playing second base?and even some shortstop?at Triple-A and in the majors. Despite his work up the middle, Rendon could still be the heir to Ryan Zimmerman, who had throwing issues at third base this season, even when healthy. Rendon has Gold Glove abilities at the hot corner and is more than capable at second base. Because of the vast strength in his wrists and forearms, he?s also got the potential for more than 20 homers annually and a solid average. ?He?s got enough power to hit home runs,? a second scout said. ?Usually they?re bigger now, but Willie Mays wasn?t a monster. Mickey Mantle wasn?t a monster like these guys today. It?s a matter of how much power you?ve got.?
• 
  Ranked Arizona Fall League #11 prospect in 2012
  Rendon, the sixth overall selection in 2011, has struggled to remain on the field over his short professional career, missing last season with a shoulder injury and much of the 2012 campaign due to an ankle fracture. Considered the top pure hitter in his draft class, a fully healthy Rendon finally tapped into his offensive potential this fall, batting .338/.436/.494 with 10 doubles, second in the AFL. Scouts were impressed by his patient approach, strength and contact ability to all fields but also pointed out a handful of mental lapses simply caused by lack of playing time the past two seasons. Defensively, Rendon displays smooth actions and good arm strength at third base, where he projects to be an above-average defender.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #30 prospect in 2013
• Ranked Baseball America's #19 prospect in 2012

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: Rendon is one of the most accomplished college players of the last decade, and his rise to elite prospect status has been slowed only by a succession of injuries. A 27th-round pick by the Braves out of Houston's Lamar High in 2008, Rendon burst onto the national scene at Rice the following spring, hitting .388/.461/.702 with 20 homers to win Baseball America's Freshman of the Year award. He tore ligaments in his right ankle after stepping on a sprinkler head in during NCAA super regionals that June, but he rebounded to hit .394/.530/.801 with 26 homers in 2010 to win BA College Player of the Year honors. Once again his summer was lost to injury, as he broke the same ankle while running the bases in his second game with the U.S. collegiate national team. A strained throwing shoulder largely limited him to DH duties as a junior, and he got few pitches to hit. Rendon still ranked as the 2011 draft's top prospect, but uncertainty about his shoulder caused him to drop to the Nationals as the sixth overall pick. He signed a $7.2 million big league contract that including a $6 million bonus at the Aug. 15 deadline. After a stellar spring training, Rendon once more succumbed to the injury bug on April 7, slightly fracturing his left ankle while running the bases in his second pro game. He returned to action on July 19 and quickly reached Double-A Harrisburg, but he didn't truly find his stride until the Arizona Fall League, where he batted .338/.436/.494. Scouting Report: Rendon stands out most for his strong, lightning-quick hands. Rendon's tension-free swing allows him to stay back and then whip his bat through the zone, generating hard line drives from foul pole to foul pole. He has excellent balance, advanced pitch recognition and a patient approach (as evidenced by his 176-78 BB-K ratio at Rice), though his timing and pitch selection were off somewhat in his injury-shortened 2012 pro debut. Though he isn't overly physical, he enough leverage in his swing to hit 20 or more homers annually while contending for batting titles. Rendon compiled an impressive defensive highlight reel in college, and the Nationals have been impressed with his body control, hands, footwork and instincts. He had a plus arm at Rice, but it now rates as more of a solid tool. He also has lost a step or two after his three ankle injuries, making him a slightly below-average runner. The Future: If he can stay healthy, Rendon can an all-star third baseman with a middle-of-the-order bat and quality defensive skills. But with Ryan Zimmerman in his prime and locked into Washington's third-base job for the foreseeable future, Rendon figures to wind up elsewhere--perhaps second base, where he has played on occasion in college and in spring training. He figures to return to Double-A to start 2013, and he could get his first taste of the majors later in the year because his skills are advanced.
• August, 2012 Scouting Report
  Rendon, the sixth overall selection in 2011, has struggled to remain on the field over his short professional career, missing last season with a shoulder injury and much of the 2012 campaign due to an ankle fracture. Considered the top pure hitter in his draft class, a fully healthy Rendon finally tapped into his offensive potential this fall, batting .338/.436/.494 with 10 doubles, second in the AFL. Scouts were impressed by his patient approach, strength and contact ability to all fields but also pointed out a handful of mental lapses simply caused by lack of playing time the past two seasons. Defensively, Rendon displays smooth actions and good arm strength at third base, where he projects to be an above-average defender.
• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Rendon won Baseball America's Freshman of the Year award in 2009, followed by College Player of the Year honors in 2010. A strained throwing shoulder limited him to mostly DH duties and sapped his power as a junior last spring, and while he still sat atop BA's draft prospect rankings, he slid to the Nationals at No. 6. He signed a big league contract worth $7.2 million (including a $6 million bonus) at the Aug. 15 deadline, and sat out games in instructional league while continuing to build up strength in his shoulder. Though he's not physically imposing, Rendon has remarkable strength in his hands and wrists, uncanny hand-eye coordination, outstanding plate coverage and exceptional pitch recognition. He consistently drives the ball hard to all fields and projects as a well above-average hitter with plus power. He has average speed despite torn ligaments in his right ankle in 2009 and a break in the same ankle in 2010, and he's smart on the basepaths. When healthy, Rendon has superb defensive instincts and actions, good range and an above-average arm. He has drawn comparisons to Evan Longoria, Ryan Zimmerman and David Wright. With Zimmerman entrenched at third base in Washington, Rendon eventually may shift to second base. His polished bat should carry him quickly through the minors.
• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: Rendon won Baseball America's Freshman of the Year award in 2009, followed by College Player of the Year honors in 2010. A strained throwing shoulder limited him to mostly DH duties and sapped his power as a junior last spring, and while he still sat atop BA's draft prospect rankings, he slid to the Nationals at No. 6. He signed a big league contract worth $7.2 million (including a $6 million bonus) at the Aug. 15 deadline, and sat out games in instructional league while continuing to build strength in his shoulder. Scouting Report: Though he's not physically imposing, Rendon has remarkable strength in his hands and wrists, uncanny hand-eye coordination, outstanding plate coverage and exceptional pitch recognition. He consistently drives the ball hard to all fields and projects as a well above-average hitter with plus power. He has average speed despite torn ligaments in his right ankle in 2009 and a break in the same ankle in 2010, and he's smart on the basepaths. When healthy, Rendon has superb defensive instincts and actions, good range and an above-average arm. The Future: Rendon has drawn comparisons with Evan Longoria, Ryan Zimmerman and David Wright. But with Zimmerman entrenched at third base in Washington, Rendon eventually may shift to second base. His polished bat should carry him quickly through the minors.