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Washington Nationals Reaction: Get Used to Anthony Rendon

By Matt Weyrich

Aug 31, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Washington Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon (6) in the dugout against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. The Washington Nationals won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 31, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Washington Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon (6) in the dugout against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. The Washington Nationals won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Anthony Rendon helped lead the Washington Nationals to a 4-1 win over the Mets Friday night with a clutch hit in the ninth. Is this the Rendon Nats fans can get used to?

The 2016 season has seen its fair share of surprises throughout the Washington Nationals lineup. Wilson Ramos has emerged as one of the best hitting catchers in the game. Bryce Harper just emerged from one of the longest slumps of his career. Daniel Murphy has proved that his hot-streak in last season’s playoffs was no fluke.

Perhaps the least surprising member of Washington’s starting nine has been their third baseman, Anthony Rendon. The 26-year old has had a healthy and productive season, one that anyone could have predicted coming out of Spring Training. After getting off to a rough start in April, Rendon has settled into a groove. On the season, he is hitting .274/.353/.454, which falls right in line with his .275/.346/.433 career averages. Last night, Rendon hit a two-run single to center in the ninth, which drove in two key insurance runs.

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In addition to providing stellar defense over at the hot corner, Rendon is quickly showing what kind of player fans can get used to. While playing in the same league as Kris Bryant and Nolan Arenado may deprive him of a few Silver Sluggers and Gold Gloves, Rendon is going to consistently be one of the best third basemen in baseball over the next few years.

Under contract through 2020, Rendon is a player that the Nats have invested heavily in. They drafted him sixth overall in the 2011 draft, helped guide his way through less than two years of the minors, and brought him up to the Majors for good in April 2013. Since then, injuries have been the only caveat on Rendon’s success.

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An injury-plagued season in 2015 raised questions to Rendon’s ability to stay on the field. He had endured several bumps and bruises in college, which was the reason the Nats were able to grab him at sixth. While he had posted a top five MVP season in 2014, doubters still were skeptical of what kind of player Rendon would be.

130 games and 79 runs scored later, he has put those doubters to rest. Rendon has cemented himself as a crucial component of the Nats’ lineup. His production does not come as much of a surprise, and it is something that the Nats will be able to expect out of him for years to come. Get used to it Nats fans, Tony Two Bags isn’t going anywhere.

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