Anthony Rendon is headed to Pittsburgh with the Washington Nationals... but as Davey Johnson announced Thursday night, after the 22-year-old, 2011 1st Round pick went 2 for 3 with a run scored and a walk against the Atlanta Braves, he'll then return to the Double-A Harrisburg Senators for the start of their six-game homestand in Metro Bank Park against the Binghamton Mets and the Altoona Curve, the Pirates' Double-A affiliate.
The Nats' 70-year-old skipper said he liked the way Rendon's first stint in the majors wrapped up in Turner Field. "It was outstanding," Johnson said, "He's coming with us to Pittsburgh and then he's going to run over to where Harrisburg's playing. But, he really did a great job. Fielded outstanding and got some good base hits, so, it was nice, I think he got his average up to .240 and I'm sure he can live with that."
A .240 AVG, a .367 OBP after his fifth walk in 30 plate appearances, a .280 SLG. Rendon showed off a strong arm, made solid throws to first and second to start some 5-4-3s, charged weak grounders and barehanded them with abandon. The 6th overall pick in the 2011 Draft now returns to Harrisburg, where he had a .292/462/.500 line before the Nationals shocked some by calling him up when they determined that Ryan Zimmerman needed to go on the DL to allow a hamstring injury to heal.
Ryan Zimmerman is going to join the Nationals in PNC Park for the start of their three-game weekend set with the Pirates. The Nats' 28-year-old third baseman made one start with the Potomac Nationals then planned on working out at Nationals Park before flying to Pittsburg to rejoin the team. Before he went down with the hamstring injury on April 17th, Zimmerman had a .226/.311/.358 line in his first 15 games and 61 PAs, with two doubles, a triple and a home run for the Nats.
How long does Rendon stay at Double-A? How long until he's back in Washington again? And where will he play when he returns?