Rizzo ecstatic to draft polished hitter at No. 6
Rice University third baseman Anthony Rendon was not supposed to be available when the Nationals made their first pick in the 2011 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.
But even though he was a consensus top-two selection as recently as 24 hours ago, Rendon’s shaky injury history and a deep crop of prospects in this year’s draft dropped him all the way to No. 6, where Washington happily scooped him up.
Just like that the Nats added an elite offensive player who — if healthy — could arrive in the majors sooner than most of his 2011 draft peers. With Bryce Harper, last year’s No. 1 pick, dominating in his first pro season, the organization is starting to accumulate talent at the plate.
“We were pleasantly surprised, yes, that [Rendon] got to us at six,” Washington general manager Mike Rizzo said. “Going into the draft season he was projected to be the No.?1 pick and is one of the best college hitters in the game. And throughout the college season and the draft season he held on to that status. Just 24 hours ago he was going [No.] 1 or [No.] 2 in the draft.”
| Nationals notes |
| » Despite already having a third baseman in star Ryan Zimmerman, Nats general manager Mike Rizzo said No. 6 overall pick Anthony Rendon will not immediately be moved from that position. |
| » Rendon, who celebrated his 21st birthday Monday, likely will start his minor league career at low-A Hagerstown or high-A Potomac, according to Rizzo. |
| » Washington’s second first-round pick, Kentucky’s Alex Meyer, also has notorious agent Scott Boras as his advisor. That makes it four of Boras’ clients selected by the Nats in the first round of the last three drafts. |
| More Nats draft |
| » Nats select Rice third baseman Anthony Rendon |
| » Nats tab Kentucky RHP Alex Meyer, Miami-Dade OF Brian Goodwin |
Injuries provide the one major question mark. In 2009 Rendon tore ligaments in his right ankle. Last summer he broke the same ankle. And a nagging shoulder injury limited him to designated hitter duties for most of the 2011 season with Rice. Rendon insists he’s healthy, but it’s possible the teams picking in front of the Nats came to a different conclusion.
“I’m feeling great. No problems right now,” Rendon told MLB Network on Monday. “My injuries helped make me stronger. … It was not fun, but I had to deal with it. As a baseball player you have to deal with adversity and overcome it.”
Rendon’s approach at the plate is professional. He works the count, gets on base at a high clip and has a fine batting eye. Rendon’s pitch recognition is also well above average, and he doesn’t strike out much. Add a smooth, balanced swing, a line-drive stroke and raw power and you have a potential offensive star.
Rendon was the 2010 national collegiate player of the year. Players of that caliber don’t usually slip. But Rizzo said the Nats were comfortable with the medical reports on Rendon after “painstaking” research.
The Nats’ night was far from done after choosing Rendon. Thanks to a pair of compensation picks for losing first baseman Adam Dunn to the Chicago White Sox in free agency last winter, they also earned the Nos. 23 and 34 selections. With its second first-round pick, Washington chose Kentucky right-handed pitcher Alex Meyer, a 6-foot-9, 220-pounder. Few pitchers have better stuff in college baseball, though control and command have long been an issue. Meyer took steps to rectify those issues this season for the Wildcats.
At No. 34 — the first pick of the sandwich round — Washington completed its opening day of the MLB draft by choosing outfielder Brian Goodwin, an outfielder from Miami Dade College.
