With baseball season now underway, I’ve decided to whip up another MLB special. This won’t be your usual baseball special either. I won’t be talking about any superstars, won’t be talking about individual teams, and also won’t be giving my two cents on why certain players are starting off slow in 2014. Instead, I will be giving baseball fans insight on “low key studs.” These studs are certain players that have been catching my attention for the past 2-3 years. They also aren’t on the radar of your typical baseball fans. I will be talking about one low key stud for each division. So, I advise that everyone keep their eyes and ears open on these players because they will be household names some time in the future. This is part IV of the special. If you missed part I, please CLICK HERE, part II CLICK HERE, and part III CLICK HERE.
Stud Watch: NL East
Anthony Rendon, 3rd base & 2nd base, Washington Nationals
Anthony Michael Rendon is currently the 3rd baseman for the Washington Nationals but also plays 2nd base when needed. He played his college ball for the Rice University Owls, where he won the Dick Howser Trophy in 2010. The Nationals selected Rendon 6th overall in the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft. As a freshman in 2009, Rendon was named Baseball America‘s Freshman of the Year, All-America, Freshman All-American, NCBWA’s District VII Player of the Year, NCAA All-Regional Team, Conference USA Player of the Year, All-Conference USA (first team), Conference USA All-Tournament Team. As a true freshman, he hit .388 with 20 home runs and 72 runs batted in, starting in all 61 of the Owls’ games. Rendon was also nominated for both the Dick Howser Trophy and the Golden Spikes Award in his first season at the college level.
As a sophomore in 2010, he was the winner of the Dick Howser Trophy and was Baseball America’s College Player of the Year, becoming the first underclassman to win the award. Additionally, he was named the Rawlings Sporting Goods National Player of the Year, Conference USA Male Athlete of the Year, District VII Player of the Year, First Team All-American, All-south Region, Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Austin Regional, All-Conference USA, All-Conference USA Tournament, and Conference USA Academic Honor Roll. One word to describe this studs college career is, “WOW!”
Strengths
- Hits for average
- Hidden Power
- Great eye at plate
- Good walk/strike out ratio
- Solid defender
Rendon is one of those ball players that can roll out of bed and go 3-4 in his game. He has many strengths and the Nationals took notice of that while they scouted him while playing at Rice. In the batters box, Rendon has a great eye and is able to lay off bad pitches and connect on ones in his wheel house. With his great eye, he is able to make the pitcher work and drive up his pitch count as he takes many walks. He is able to hit for great average, peppering the baseball all over the field. With his great contact rate, he is able to reduce his strikeout rate and put the ball in play, resulting in plenty of quality at-bats. What many teams forget about is that he has hidden power. Rendon is able to come up in the clutch and power a ball over the fence when the Nats need a spark in the offense. While playing the field he, rarely makes any errors, covers great ground and his able to make some difficult plays look easy.
Weakness
- Doesn’t steal many bases
For as solid as Rendon is, he only has one weakness, and that is his stolen bags total. He is not slow by any means but for someone in his stature you would expect someone who is able to steal 10-15 bases a year. Yet again, he isn’t asked to steal much because of the potent line-up he is in and their ability to drive runs in. If Matt Williams gives him the green light every now and again he could be one of the best young players for years to come.
Overall
Anthony Rendon is one of the best all-around young studs in all of baseball. He has many strengths and only one blemish in his game. Rendon is scary at the plate with his great average, good eye, and hidden power. He is able to put the ball in play most in of his at bats, and if he isn’t able to connect he will find a way to draw a walk and make the pitcher work. The only flaw in his game is his stolen base numbers, but I don’t blame that on him. With this being his second year in the bigs, first full season, all baseball fans should keep an eye on Rendon and notice how great of a ball player he is. He may never make an All-Star game due to Bryce Harper, but that won’t stop him from producing and having a great career.
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