Rendon reacts to inclusion in the Final Vote for All-Star Game

Major League Baseball on Sunday night announced that Nationals second baseman Anthony Rendon is among the final five players eligible for inclusion in the All-Star Game in Minneapolis on July 15 via the Final Vote.

Fans can vote for Rendon here. He's competing against Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo, Marlins third baseman Casey McGehee, Rockies first baseman Justin Morneau and Braves outfielder Justin Upton.

Balloting for Final Vote continues until 4 p.m. on Thursday, July 10.

Rendon is hitting .282 through 83 games with a team-leading 94 hits. He has 21 doubles, five triples, 12 homers and 50 RBIs. He has eight stolen bases and has been walked 29 times.

Nationals manager Matt Williams said he believes Rendon is worthy of consideration for the All-Star Game because of the season he has had offensively and the way he has played defensively, both at third base and second base this season.

"I just think he's played really well," Williams said. "The fact that he is in that final grouping says a lot about his season and the way he's played. He's handled himself very well for being a very young player. He certainly deserves consideration, that's for sure."

Rendon said it would be an honor to be voted in, but he won't campaign for the spot in any way.

"It'd be pretty cool," Rendon said. "I'm not going to get my hopes up. Definitely a lot of guys that are deserving, especially on that list."

"I don't think I should make it, I should go home," Rendon joked.

Rendon was also nonchalant about how good a season he has had so far at the plate.

"It's all right. Got lucky a couple of times," he said. "Guess I'm doing all right."

But he did open up a bit about how his transition has been from second base to third base and back to second this season due to various injuries. He said he worked hard in the offseason to prepare for just that possibility.

"I think I have," Rendon said. "I've grown more accustomed this year. It was a little bit of a challenge last year. Then going into spring training this year I got a lot of reps at second base. I've already had in the past a lot of reps at third base. Getting used to second base I guess earlier this year kind of helped (make) that transition more easier. So it's actually gone pretty well."

Rendon was also pleased to hear Jordan Zimmermann get the call to the All-Star Game.

"He's definitely more than deserving," Rendon said. "He's been amazing this year. It sucks because he shouldn't have some of those losses cause he's given up maybe one run and we haven't given any run support in those games. His record doesn't necessarily depict what his performance is."

When asked who else on the team should have been called, Rendon said he thinks the whole bullpen should be invited to the All-Star Game.

"Our bullpen has been lights out," Rendon said. "I'd throw them all in there."