Just this week, I looked in on Nationals prospect Anthony Rendon's progress in the minors. I noted that although his bat was looking major-league ready, the team had no place for him to play in Washington. That changed Saturday when Rendon got the call from Double-A Harrisburg after third baseman Ryan Zimmerman injured his hamstring and is headed to the disabled list. What does this callup mean for Fantasy owners?
For one thing, it means Baseball America's No. 30 prospect is set to make his major-league debut after just 225 plate appearances in the minors. Rendon has looked advanced for Double-A in his brief chances this season, after struggling in a late call-up a year ago. Through 14 games, Rendon was batting .292, with six extra-base hits in 48 at-bats. Most impressively was the former No. 6 overall pick's advance command of the strike zone. He had 14 walks against nine strikeouts.
Rendon is going to be challenged much more by big-league pitchers who have nothing to fear from a 23-year-old, no matter how highly touted. It would be foolish to expect him to control the zone with such authority against the Clayton Kershaws and Adam Wainwrights of the National League. Still, plate discipline is a skill that can translate right away, while a young player is still developing the rest of his game.
Rendon is going to get plenty of chances to start over the span of at least a few weeks with Zimmerman out, and it will be interesting to see what he is capable of against top-flight competition. At the very least, he is worth a speculative add off the waiver wires, with the caveat that his stay in the majors is unlikely to be permanent once Zimmerman recovers from his injury.