The Nationals have placed veteran utilityman Howie Kendrick on the 10-day injured list due to a left hamstring strain. The placement is retroactive to September 6.
Given both the calendar and the difficult nature of hamstring injuries, there is certainly a chance that Kendrick could be out of action for the remainder of the 2020 season. With the Nationals at 16-25, the team could also explore shutting Kendrick down if and when a postseason berth becomes an impossibility. Washington’s .390 winning percentage sits 13th out of 15 National League teams.
Kendrick missed two weeks of Summer Camp due to a coronavirus quarantine, so between that missed time and a hamstring problem that The Athletic’s Brittany Ghiroli notes has bothered him for much of the season, it isn’t surprising that Kendrick has delivered below-average production (.275/.320/.385) over an even 100 plate appearances. This is well below the .294/.337/.431 career slash line he carried into 2020, but there is some misfortune baked into Kendrick’s performance this season, as his .358 xwOBA is considerably higher than his .293 wOBA.
With the DH spot open to the National League this season, Kendrick has mostly filled that role for the Nats, only appearing in the field (at first base) for six of his 25 games. Juan Soto was the designated hitter in last night’s lineup, and since the young slugger is still recovering from an elbow problem, Soto could see the bulk of DH action until he is ready to resume his usual outfield duties.
Since being traded by the Phillies to the Nationals in July 2017, Kendrick has been a very valuable part-timer for Washington, particularly during a big 2019 that saw him star in both the regular season and in the postseason. Kendrick signed a one-year deal for the 2020 season that carries a $6.5MM mutual option for 2021 (with a $2.25MM buyout), so it remains to be seen if his struggles this year could lead the Nats to part ways with the 37-year-old.
he can sure hit but cant stay healthy
This is a strange thing to say about a player who’s made an average of around 450 PAs a year over 15 years in the majors. Most players would commit grand larceny to have that kind of bad health.
Agreed. And those strange things to say usually come from the same trolls, too. Funny that.
Dunno about the troll thing but I do know that players get hurt every day and very few get through their careers without a few trips the IL, and the moment one does, somebody will say “dude can’t stay healthy.”
Any player who is 37 y.o., like Kendrick, is going to be susceptible to injury. Kendrick has had a nice career, and he’s built like a battleship. So hats off to him for taking care of himself enough to play at his age, and be so productive too.
Only two spots to drop for the number 1 pick!
Thought I was the only one watching. Who would have thought.
Hopefully the RS will have it n not really even trying.
Time for the Brock-star to shine!!
Nats need to stop winning. Getting a top pick this year should help extend the overall winning trend
How many teams in MLB history have gone from 1st to worst in a year? And it’s not ALL from missing Anthony Rendon.
The Nats are actually starting 2020 slightly better than they started in 2019. They were 19-31 were through 50 games in 2019. They’ll need to lose 6 of their next 9 to match their 2019 record through 50 games in 2020.
The 97 Marlins and 98 Marlins did that in impressive fashion.
Are you referring to going to worse in all of baseball or just worse in their division? I know the Red Sox dropped to fifth in their division in 2014 after winning the World Series in 2013. An epic worst to first back to worst three year run.
Rizzo and lerners get what they deserve. Now, they can play for the number 1 or 2 pick in the draft and keep letting players walk away. They look like the old Pardres now. Will they let Trea Turner walk next because of the Lerners being too cheap plans of payment. Deferred payment is old thinkIng method, which is not popular with modern and young players.
Hard to take anything you say seriously. If you’re suggesting that letting Harper and Rendon “walk” was due to deferred payment contract offers, than you’re wrong.
Prior to this season, Washington averaged in the Top 6 in team payrolls from ’17 – ’19 — that’s not “cheap”. And they just won a WS by using deferred payment contracts on high dollar players that made a huge difference in earning them a ring. They just tossed a Brinks truck at Strasburg, so yeah, reeeeeeeal cheap there.
I’m thinking Charlie Culbertson will be Howie Kendrick’s replacement. Rizzo always liked Culbertson. Don’t believe he’s cleared yet as he was DFA’d just the other day.
Culberson
” it isn’t surprising that Kendrick has delivered below-average production (.275/.320/.385) over an even 100 plate appearances. This is well below the .294/.337/.431 career slash line”
Does the author of this realize that equates literally to two hits?
Good call drasco036. Much a fuss by the author over a mere 100 AB’s.