Anthony Rendon is Back
Entering play on May 17, Anthony Rendon was hitting .229 and had driven in only six runs all year. Dusty decided a lineup switch was in order, and he moved Rendon down to the number six spot to help him find his groove. Needless to say, he found it.
Since that day, Rendon has raised his batting average more than 30 points and racked up eleven RBIs. He has settled into his spot in the order well, benefitting from hitting with more runners on base. With the hot-hitting Wilson Ramos batting behind him, he’s scored ten times as well.
While it is still too early to determine if his power stroke has returned, Rendon hit his fifth home run of the year on Saturday. It was his third in his last ten games. For comparison, he only had two long balls in his first 45 contests this season. He had 21 homers only two seasons ago, and it isn’t too far fetched to think that he can return to that form.
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When Rendon is hitting well, he has the potential to be one of the better hitters in this lineup. He finished top-5 in MVP voting in 2014, and there’s no reason why he can’t put up another similar season. If he keeps hitting the way he has the last few weeks, Dusty will have no choice but to move him back up the lineup. If the players around him do their job by getting on base and driving him in, Rendon could make a case for his second career Silver Slugger.