Nationals Turn to Anthony Rendon to Fill in for Zimmerman

Ryan Zimmerman‘s latest injury consists of a hamstring strain but the DL stint presents an opportunity for Washington’s top prospect.

At 22-years-old, Anthony Rendon is being relied on as the full-time replacement at the hot corner for Zimmerman, the cornerstone veteran of the team. Rendon delivered his first career RBI in his sixth career at bat, punching a double on Monday against the Cardinals. Rendon had previously struck out three times in his first five at bats.

The move is mildly surprising for Washington. While the Nationals are off to a sluggish 10-8 start and finding themselves down three games to the Atlanta Braves, Washington is still just in the third week of the regular season. The injury to Zimmerman is yet to have a timetable but Rendon has just 147 at bats above A level.

The results have been mixed, but in 48 at bats for AA Harrisburg, Rendon was off to a red-hot start, hitting: .292/.462 with six extra base hits and seven RBI. The Nationals have probably been the best recent example of prospects playing immediate dividends, but they did have the benefit of back to back generational talents being drafted number one overall. Stephen Strausberg and Bryce Harper are the future of the franchise and the reason it has gone from 90 plus losses to 90 plus wins, and both players made immediate impacts at a younger age than Rendon.

As a sixth overall pick, Rendon is still a top prospect and currently ranks number one overall in the system, but it’s unclear if he is getting his feet wet or if a solid showing can give him staying power.

If he plays well, there is no real spot for him to stay. If he plays poorly, will it kill his confidence or was the plan to simply show Rendon what the major leagues are like?

Either way, it will be up to Rendon to try to help the parent club now, and with Zimmerman’s injury history, he may find himself getting acclimated to Washington DC more often than not in the near future.