Nats AFL Update: Rendon remains on fire
The Washington Nationals have 8 of the system's top prospects playing in the Arizona Fall League. The Nats prospects are assigned to the Salt River Rafters. The Rafters sit in first place with a 15-13 record and a half game lead. How are the Nats prospects faring in the AFL? We will tell you . . .
3B Anthony Rendon: Rendon is the top prospect in the Nationals system. He is the 2011 first round draft pick, the 6th overall selection. He was designated by nearly unanimous draft scouts as the top hitter in the 2011 MLB Draft. Rendon fell as the top pick overall due to injury concerns. Those injury concerns bit the Nats last year as Rendon missed all of last season with an ankle injury. The Nationals are looking for a healthy 2013 for Rendon, their heir apparent to Ryan Zimmerman at third base.
Rendon is batting a healthy .329 at the plate for the Rafters. In 76 at bats, Rendon has 25 hits, including 10 doubles and a triple. Rendon has scored 15 runs while driving in 11 runs. He has a .487 slugging percentage and a .411 on base percentage. Over his last 10 games, Rendon is batting a nice .432 and has 7 multi-hit games over that stretch. During the last ten games, Rendon has a slugging percentage of .649 and an on base percentage of .500. Rendon also appears in the AFL stat leader board. He is 10th overall in batting average, 4th over in runs scored, 2nd overall in doubles, and 11th overall in on base percentage.
3B Matthew Skole: Skole is heating up once again. Last update, Skole's batting average fell below .300 to .283. Currently, in 56 plate appearances, Skole has 18 hits for a .321 batting average. Skole has 4 doubles and 3 home runs. He has scored 9 runs while driving in 15 runs. He has a healthy .554 slugging percentage and a .429 on base percentage. Over his last 3 games, Skole is 5 for 10 with 7 RBI, 3 runs scored and 3 walks. On the stat leaderboard, Skole is 15th overall in batting average, 6th overall in RBIs, 7th overall in on base percentage, and 6th overall in slugging percentage.
CF Brian Goodwin: Goodwin has been slumping recently after getting off to a fast start in the AFL. Overall, Goodwin has 18 hits in 76 at bats for a .237 batting average. Ten of his eighteen hits are for extra bases, with 5 doubles, 2 triples, and 3 home runs. He has scored 15 runs and drive in 6. He has a .474 slugging percentage and a .344 on base percnetage. He is 4th overall in the AFL in runs scored.
IF Jason Martinson: After a horrible start, Martison is starting to connect. Her is 5 for 33 with a .159 batting average. However, he has a current five game hitting streak
P Ryan Perry: Perry has made 6 starts and is 2-0 with a 4.89 ERA. In 21.2 innings, Perry has allowed 12 runs on 17 hits and 8 walks, while fanning 16 batters. He has a WHIP of 1.15. In his last start, Perry threw 4.1 innings and scattered 3 hits on 1 run.
P Paul Demny: Demny has made 10 appearances out of the Rafters' bullpen. He has a 3.94 ERA and has allowed 7 runs over 16 innings. In those 16 innings, Demny has allowed 18 hits and 8 walks while striking out 12. He has a WHIP of 1.63.
P Cole Kimball: Kimball has appeared in 10 games and has allowed 7 runs over 13 innings for an ERA of 4.85. He has allowed 14 hits and 8 walks while fanning 8. Her has a WHIP of 1.69. He has recorded 1 hold.
P Aaron Barrett: Barrett has appeared in 9 games out of the bullpen. He has allowed 3 runs over 10 innings for an ERA of 2.70. He has allowed 13 hits, but only 1 walk. He has 9 strike outs. Barrett has recorded 2 holds.
