Is Anthony Rendon Overrated? (3 Reasons He Is Not)

Los Angeles Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon came to the team before the 2020 season, after lifting the World Series trophy in 2019 with the Washington Nationals.

While the Angels were viewed as the favorites to sign pitcher Gerrit Cole, the New York Yankees swooped in and inked the ace, and then Los Angeles shifted their focus to Rendon.

Although the Angels needed (still do) some pitching at the time, Rendon is more than a consolation prize.

He may not have Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s ability to hit for average, nor Fernando Tatis Jr’s power or Whit Merrifield’s speed.

He is also no Matt Chapman at third base, and he is not the offensive weapon that his own teammates Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani are.

So, who is Rendon?

What can he contribute?

Is he overrated, as some have suggested?

Anthony Rendon is so overrated. Its disgusting how high everyone is on him

— #Letsgetit (@rockheroz) February 3, 2021

Here are three reasons why he is not overrated.

3. He Is One Of The Game’s Premier All-Around Performers

While all of the aforementioned comparisons are true, it’s safe to say that Rendon is far from overrated because he can do more than a bit of everything.

He doesn’t have legendary power, but he can easily hit 25 or 30 homers per season.

He will not lead the league in average, but is far from vulnerable, has hit .300 or more several times in the past, and has a career batting average of .287, well-above average.

He is no burner, but he can move his legs and has stolen 45 bases in his career.

And while he is not the best fielding third baseman, he is among the best.

In other words, he is an all-around performer who can help you win championships.

2. He Can Carry A Team On His Back In The Postseason

Another reason why Rendon is definitely not overrated is that he has the hitting talent to carry a team in postseason play.

In seven playoff series, Rendon has a .282/.370/.479 line with a fine .848 OPS.

He proved in 2019 that he can do the talking in the field, and he can be the primary slugger on a winning team.

That year, he hit .412/.455/.765 with a 1.219 OPS in five division series games; .417/.529/.500 with a 1.029 OPS in four championship series games; and .276/.344/.586 with two homers, eight RBI and a .930 OPS in seven World Series contests.

He, together with Juan Soto, were the main reasons behind the Nats’ offensive success.

Thank you for 7 amazing years Anthony Rendon. So many incredible moments, none bigger than the HR in Game 7 of the World Series. Godspeed, Tony Two Bags. pic.twitter.com/1LUYSakErj

— Rudy Gersten (@DCBarno) December 12, 2019

1. We Have Seen His Ceiling, And It’s Awesome

For years, Rendon was considered a top player who was held back by injuries and, at times, inconsistent play.

He finally broke out in 2017, hitting .301/.403/.533 with 25 homers, 100 RBI, and a .937 OPS.

After that year, he never looked back.

But his finest season was, without a doubt, 2019.

That was the year the Nationals won the World Series.

He batted .319/.412/.598 with 44 doubles, 34 home runs, 126 RBI, and a 1.010 OPS.

Those are absolutely amazing numbers, and Rendon is capable of getting them.

Any player who can hit for a 1.010 OPS over a full season, or carry a team like he did with the Nats in the 2019 postseason run, can’t be called overrated.