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Washington Nationals: Top Five First Round Draft Picks

By Ricky Keeler

Feb 24, 2015; Viera, FL, USA; A Washington Nationals baseball cap lies on the field during spring training workouts at Space Coast Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 24, 2015; Viera, FL, USA; A Washington Nationals baseball cap lies on the field during spring training workouts at Space Coast Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 5, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Washington Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon grounds in to a fielders choice scoring two runs against the Cincinnati Reds during the fifth inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports /

Anthony Rendon – 6th pick, 2011

Back in 2011, the Washington Nationals had three of the first 34 picks in the draft. The first of those three picks was Anthony Rendon. Rendon was selected with the sixth pick out of Rice University. In his time with the Owls, he hit 52 home runs in three seasons, including 26 home runs in his sophomore year (2010), when he hit .394 with a .539 on-base percentage in 63 games.

Rendon would make his big league debut with the Nats on April 21, 2013 against the New York Mets. In his 3+ seasons with the Nats, his best season was back in 2014. Rendon, who was 24 at the time, drove in 111 runs (led the NL), hit 21 home runs, drove in 83 runs, and finished fifth in the MVP voting.

When you look back at the 2011 MLB Draft, there were many good players taken with the first 15 picks. Some of those names include Gerrit Cole (Pirates), Francisco Lindor (Indians), George Springer (Astros), and Jose Fernandez (Marlins). Also, the A’s drafted Sonny Gray with the 18th pick.

During that first round, the Nats took Meyer (23rd) and outfielder Brian Goodwin (34th). Goodwin is still in the organization at triple-A Syracuse. In a recent article by Jim Callis of MLB.com, he had the Nats taking Gray instead of Rendon when he re-did the first round.

While Gray would have been another good young arm in the Washington Nationals rotation, it’s safe to say the Nats are happy with their selection of Rendon as he has bounced back from his early season struggles this year.

Next: Number Three

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