Stevenson's September surge is hard to ignore

There is no month on the baseball calendar more misleading than September. It happens every year: Somebody puts up big numbers during the season's final month, convinces everyone he's going to pick up where he left off the following spring and then never duplicates the feat.

So take these stats with a healthy grain of salt, because it's probably foolish to assume they will carry over into 2021.
Here goes: Andrew Stevenson is batting .351 with a .415 on-base percentage and 1.117 OPS that outranks any Nationals player not named Juan Soto.

"He's playing really good now," Nationals manager Davey Martinez said following Saturday's doubleheader sweep of the Mets. "Like I've said before, I've always liked the way he swung the bat."

There has been no more encouraging development over the final two weeks of the Nats' disappointing season than Stevenson's sudden and torrid production at the plate since his promotion from the club's alternate training site in Fredericksburg. The 26-year-old outfielder has finally been given a chance to play on a regular basis, with Adam Eaton on the injured list, and he has made the most of the opportunity.

Batting out of the leadoff spot, Stevenson has delivered an 11-game hitting streak. He's reaching base at a hefty clip, making contact and hitting for power. Eight of his 13 hits this season have been for extra bases, including a pair of home runs Saturday afternoon off two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom.

"That's kind of one of the things you look at and you don't really expect to do," Stevenson said. "He's one of the best pitchers in baseball. Just to be a part of that is something pretty cool."

To be fair, the second of Stevenson's two homers was of the inside-the-park variety, made possible only because Mets left fielder Dominic Smith slammed face-first into the wall at Nationals Park and fell to the ground in pain as Stevenson circled the bases without drawing a throw.

His first homer, a conventional blast to right-center off deGrom, was more than impressive enough on its own merits.

But what does any of this mean for Stevenson? Is he suddenly a frontrunner to win a starting job next season? The Nationals aren't about to make that kind of proclamation. And truth be told, their hesitance to call Stevenson up earlier in the summer even when there were job openings may offer a greater clue about the organization's long-term belief in him.

Stats don't lie, though, and Stevenson's stats over the last two seasons - admittedly in limited playing time - can't be ignored. Over 78 plate appearances, he's batting .358 with a .449 on-base percentage, .597 slugging percentage and 1.046 OPS.

He's playing with energy and confidence. And though the road comes to an end today, Stevenson will go home for the winter knowing he turned many heads, surely some of them now wondering if his September success is a precursor of more to come in the future.

"I think it's just believing in yourself," Stevenson said. "I believe I'm a great player, and if I get an opportunity, I can go out and produce. So that was kind of always in the back of my mind (while waiting in Fredericksburg to be called up). Just to be ready. You never know. And take advantage of all the work you're putting in each day, because eventually it's all going to pay off."