This season is full of intriguing two-player “Showdowns” that beg comparison and invite debate. In each Showdown we pit two players from the same position against each other, scrutinize their age, injuries (if applicable), and statistics, with only one coming out on top.
The third match on our Showdown supercard features two “don”s who are fairly new to the scene: Donaldson vs Rendon
Other than the “don” thing, these two do not have too much in common, except that they are both elite third baseman who are coming off their best year. And, there’s reason to believe they can be even better Fantasy contributors in 2015.
Josh Donaldson - After all the ado about the Bosox and Panda, the Jays swooped in for the superior third baseman. Donaldson, thought to be untouchable, was the most surprising acquisition of the offseason.
The 29 yr. old is coming off an impressive 2014 campaign. In 158 GP last year Donaldson had 93 R, 29 HR and 98 RBI. The last two stats would look so much better if they were bumped up by 1 and 2 respectively, but perhaps it helps disguise his value a little, as well.
There is one negative from Donaldson’s 2014: although his counting stats improved a few ticks, his batting average and slugging took a fairly big hit, especially when compared to his 2013 season. He hit .301 in 2013 with a .499 slugging percentage. Last year he hit .255 with a .456 slugging percentage. He had 76 walks in both years.
However, the already elite third baseman is bound to have improved numbers across the board because: (A) Roger’s Center is a hitter’s ballpark, especially compared to O.co Coliseum, (B) The Blue Jays have one of the best offenses in the MLB, and (C) The A.L. East has quickly become deprived of ace pitching.
Anthony Rendon - While his younger teammate, Bryce Harper, got all the attention, often for the wrong reasons, Rendon quietly had one of the most impressive seasons in the Majors last year. Yes, that’s right, even though the 22 yr. old Harper has one more year in the Majors, Rendon is older than him by more than two years (Rendon turns 25 in June). Perhaps this explains the difference in maturity, and the difference in performance.
Rendon finished 2014 with 111 R/21 HR/83 RBI and 17 SB. He hit .287 and finished with an .824 OPS. This all came when he was supposed to be experiencing his sophomore slump. Many second year players do fall victim to this phenomenon (see: Sophomore’s Lumps), which makes his performance all that more impressive.
This excellence should not really come as much of a surprise, as the numbers in his short Minor League career attest: .408 OBP/.531 SLG for a .939 OPS. His talent must have convinced management immediately, as he practically skipped AAA on his way to the big show.
So, what’s next for Rendon? Well, given his age, there may be more upside on top of his breakout 2014. It’s not a stretch to picture a 25/20 campaign in 2015 with a slight uptick in runs and RBI.
The Decision
There’s a lot of positives for each player going into 2015.
Donaldson’s got external factors working in his favor – the new team, ballpark and division – and he should enjoy a slight uptick in his counting stats. At the same time, his lowered batting average may be a sign that his peak has already come.
Rendon, on the other hand, has the upside to go with his stellar 2014. It’s hard to find one negative with this talent, except that he only has the one year of evidence to prove himself. And, did we forget to mention that he still has second base eligibility?
Winner “by a round”: Rendon