Anthony Rendon stayed healthy last season. That was enough to earn him an award.
Rendon was named the National League Comeback Player of the Year on Tuesday. The Washington Nationals’ third baseman played just 80 games in 2015 because of a knee problem that started in spring training when he dove for a ground ball. It nagged him throughout the season, one in which Rendon finished with a .707 OPS a season after finishing fifth in MVP voting.
He played a career-high 156 games last season, helping the Nationals win the National League East division title for the third time in five years. Rendon made 647 plate appearances, almost 300 more than the prior season, and pushed his OPS to .797. He also hit 20 home runs, stole 12 bases, walked a career-high 65 times, drove in 85 runs and played a skilled third base.
Rendon is the second player in Nationals history (2005-present) to earn this award, joining Dmitri Young, who won in 2007.
Boston Red Sox pitcher Rick Porcello, who also won the American League Cy Young award, was named the AL Comeback Player of the Year.
• Todd Dybas can be reached at tdybas@washingtontimes.com.
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