A day after selecting pitcher Lucas Giolito with their first-round pick in the 2012 MLB Draft, the Washington Nationals drafted Cal second baseman Tony Renda with their second-round pick, No. 80 overall.
A native of Hillsborough, California, Renda was named a 2012 first-team preseason All-American by Baseball America and second-team preseason All-American by Collegiate Baseball and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. He was also named the Pac-10's player of the year in 2011, only the fourth Cal player to earn the honor.
In 2012, his junior season, Renda batted .342 for the Golden Bears and posted a .436 on-base percentage and a .484 slugging percentage, hitting 5 home runs and driving in 27 runs while starting 53 of Cal's 54 games this season.
For more Nationals coverage and conversation, visit Federal Baseball, SB Nation's Nats blog. For news, updates and projections related to the next week's MLB Draft, stay tuned to this StoryStream here at SB Nation DC.