Third baseman Anthony Rendon was optioned to Double-A Harrisburg Thursday by the Washington Nationals.
The top prospect batted .375 with four home runs and four doubles this spring, with 11 RBIs in 13 Grapefruit League games. He had been earmarked for Double-A since spring training began.
Rendon, 22, the sixth overall pick in the 2011 draft, was limited to 160 plate appearances last season because of a left ankle injury suffered in his second professional game. He finished with a .233 average and six home runs.