Arenado vs Rendon

by jwjc11 on Feb 15, 2026 11:15 PM EST

I"m surprised this has not already been posted and I am interested in seeing what some other people are thinking. The question is, who will have a more successful MLB career? From the research I have done, Arenado at 1 year younger than Rendon has a chance to be a Sep 2012 call up to MLB. Rendon projects to be MLB ready late 2013 or early 2014 so the younger player (Arenado) will have more MLB experience. Rendon looks to have better HR and avg. potential but Arenado is a more patient hitter. Rendon also has a higher risk / reward given his injury history. I feel Arenado is the save bet but Rendon is the better bet to be a yearly all star.

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Who will have a more successful MLB career

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Im going with Rendon

If he plays 3rd he can be a gold glove contender, hit for power, avg, get on base, no huge K numbers, its close, but I think Rendon has an advantage with the glove with the bats being similar.

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by mathisrocks5 on Feb 16, 2026 12:23 AM EST reply actions

by MRDillow on Feb 16, 2026 7:56 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

I'll take the guy who has played professional baseball before.

That he lacks a frightening injury history is just a plus.

by WhyGodWhy on Feb 16, 2026 12:24 AM EST reply actions

calling

Arenado more patient when Rendon has a higher BB then K ratio seems misleading no.

by High Heater on Feb 16, 2026 7:59 AM EST reply actions

I understand your point

I was impressed with the low Ks of Arenado and Rendon still does not have any pro at bats.

by jwjc11 on Feb 16, 2026 8:28 AM EST up reply actions

It was college

If aren’t posting ridiculous BB:K ratios, than there is something wrong. Remember, Gordon Beckham posted a 54:30 ratio in college, but in the majors he’s at 113:268.

by nixa37 on Feb 16, 2026 12:25 PM EST up reply actions

Nolan Arenado easily (in my opinion)

I think he has the hallmarks of a potential upper level starter at 3b.

by Matt0330 on Feb 16, 2026 9:44 AM EST reply actions

I think they're both top tier guys

and Rendon has huge potential, but sitting here today w/ Rendon’s injury concerns and no pro data, I think you have to take Arenado.

by PrincetonCubs on Feb 16, 2026 10:49 AM EST reply actions

Arenado

I figured I would be in the minority (and the votes prove it to this point - though not to the extend I expected). I absolutely loved Rendon before the shoulder injury. But we have seen time and again how shoulder injuries can sap a hitter’s power. I need to see a fully healthy Rendon before I would vote for him over Arenado.

by guru4u on Feb 16, 2026 10:51 AM EST reply actions

Arenado more paitent?

i find that very, very hard to believe.

by dj07551 on Feb 16, 2026 10:52 AM EST reply actions

perhaps "more selective" is a better way to say it - "more patient" usually implies "more walks"

Arenado takes a lot of pitches and makes a lot of contact. He doesn’t have high BB (or K) totals, and likely won’t, because of the contact rate.

by dbreer23 on Feb 16, 2026 11:55 AM EST up reply actions

Thanks

Well said thanks for clearing up my words

by jwjc11 on Feb 16, 2026 12:46 PM EST up reply actions

Arenado easily

Rendon has the injury question marks, lack of pro data, and his power completely disappeared last season when he had to use BBCOR bats. I could care less about his pretty BB:K ratio. It was college, if he wasn’t posting great numbers there, I wouldn’t have considered him a top prospect in the first place.

by nixa37 on Feb 16, 2026 12:28 PM EST reply actions

This this this.

Both should be good tho.

by Traindogger on Feb 16, 2026 1:36 PM EST up reply actions

Rendon hands down

There is risk of course with both. The difference in my opinion is the only thing that could derail Rendon is health. If he is healthy I don’t see him not turning into the player many thought he would be before the injuries.

There are still some performance questions about Arenado. Not everyone buys into the power he flashed in the minors and AFL.

by emoofb on Feb 16, 2026 12:31 PM EST reply actions

I love me some Rendon

Arenado is gonna put up sick numbers in Colorado but I like Rendon’s all around ability much more. I also don’t believe Rendon will take that long to get to the big leagues. We’ll see.

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by DominicanDandy on Feb 16, 2026 12:48 PM EST reply actions

Hopefully this is a Longo v Zimmerman debate in a few years

Rendon has #1 pick talent, but hasn’t faced pro hitters yet, and has a major injury to overcome and is a full year older than Arenado who reports say is going either break ST with the MLB team or at least start AA as a 20yo.
Arenado had major questions about his future at 3B a late as last offseason, scouts say he is now an above average 3B defensively after losing 20lbs last offseason and increasing his athleticism, he now has had more XBH than K’s in two consecutive years where the average competition has been between 2-4 years older than him.
As for power while Arenado’s Modesto team does play in an offensive friendly league their home park has RH HR factor of 40 that is the lowest any professional field. Arenado hit 14HR in 292 road PA and just 6 in 291 home appearances(this means you should also keep an eye on Kent Matthes road slg .730 and Mike Zuanich road slg 727% both are RH who were old for high A but both with big power)
I like Rendon a lot, but would need to see him finish 2012 well in AA before I am ready to bump him into top 25 status.

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by TomCat009 on Feb 16, 2026 2:10 PM EST up reply actions

Both can be good

Rendon is a great prospect with the bat and if his body is healthy again, he’s potentially special.

Arenado is more proven right now, two very good pro seasons, and with his low K’ ratio (low walk ratio too so he loves to swing the bat, which might be exploited at higher levels), solid average and run-producing ability (not to be undervalued), he is the more pro ready talent.

I’d say Arenado is better if he had posted averages well over .300 but he’s been right around .300 (impressive) at this point. That’s the only knock on him I can see, and it’s minor. Defensively, he’s become more than passable.

Short-term, Arenado is the pick. Long-term, Rendon might be the choice.

Great news is the Rockies and Nationals might both be very happy.

Colorado Rockies’ Prospects Report

by Mjay424 on Feb 16, 2026 4:14 PM EST reply actions

at this point we are 49 too 50

I started this post thinking Rendon would be the clear cut favorite but I have learned that most everyone feels the same why I do. Rendon is might have the bigger impact but Arenado is a safe bet to make an MLB impact. thanks but I.m still asking the question. I think for my fantasy team I will chose Arenado because he will be MLB ready sooner and he is the safe bet.

by jwjc11 on Feb 16, 2026 10:56 PM EST reply actions