Nats AFL Update: Rendon batting over .300
The 8 Washington Nationals prospects continue chugging along in the Arizona Fall League. The Nats players are assigned to the Salt River Rafters. The Rafters are in first place with a 12-10 record. How are the Nats prospects faring?
3B Anthony Rendon: Rendon was the Nationals top pick of the 2011 MLB Draft, the sixth overall draft choice. Rendon was slated to be a top 3 draft pick, but slid to sixth on injury concerns. He did miss all of last season injured. Slated as the future third baseman in DC, Rendon has been on a tear at the plate, raising his overall batting average to .317. In 17 games, Rendon has 19 hits in 60 plate appearances, including 7 doubles and a home run. Rendon has scored 12 runs and driven in 10. He has a .467 slugging percentage and a .411 on base percentage. On Tuesday night, Rendon went 3 for 3 with 2 doubles, a stole base and 4 RBI. After battling through a 2012 injury-laced season, Rendon is enjoying himself again.
"It's pretty crazy," Rendon said. "It was just one year ago that I got drafted and that was a dream come true. Now I'm living out the dream and playing baseball for a living.
"Where I came from a couple months ago, I was in a cast in rehab. I just needed more time and more at-bats to get comfortable on the baseball field again. To be where I am right now is amazing."
Over his last ten games, Rendon is batting .382 with 5 doubles and 7 RBI. During that stretch, he has hits in 8 of 10 games and has a multi hit game in 4 of his last 6 games.
Matthew Skole: Skole is slumping a bit, having just 1 hit in his last 16 at bats. Overall, Skole is batting .283 with 3 doubles and 2 home runs. He has also scored 6 runs and driven in 8 runs and has a .478 slugging percentage.
Brian Goodwin: Goodwill is also in a bit of slump, having gone 0 for 16 over his last 4 games. In 15 games, Goodwin has 15 hits in 55 at bats for a .254 batting average. He has 4 doubles, 2 triples, and 3 home runs. He has scored 11 runs, driven in 4 runs, and has a solid slugging percentage of .542.
Jason Martinson: Martinson has appeared in 7 games and has 3 hits in 26 at bats for a .115 batting average. He has two doubles and has scored 2 runs and driven in 4.
Ryan Perry: Perry has started 5 games and is 1-0 with a 5.60 ERA. In 17.2 innings, Perry has allowed 11 runs on 14 hits and 5 walks, while fanning 14 batters. He has a WHIP of 1.08.
Paul Demny: Demny has appeared in 8 games out of the bullpen. He has allowed 3 runs in 11.2 innings for an ERA of 2.31. He has allowed 10 hits, 8 walsk, and struck out 7 batters.
Cole Kimball: Kimball has appeared in 8 games out of the bullpen and has posted a 3.86 ERA, allowing 4 runs over 9.1 innings. He has allowed 11 hits and 5 walks with 4 strikeouts.
Aaron Barrett: Barrett has appeared in 7 games and has an ERA of 3.38. In 8 innings, he has allowed 3 runs and 13 hits, but only allowed 1 walk.
