Anthony Rendon
Anthony Michael Rendon is an American baseball third baseman for the Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball. He previously played for the Washington Nationals.
Rendon played college baseball for the Rice University Owls, where he won the 2010 Dick Howser Trophy. He was selected sixth overall in the 2011 MLB draft by the Nationals, and made his MLB debut in 2013. During his time with the Nationals, Rendon won the Silver Slugger Award in 2014 and 2019, NL Comeback Player of the Year in 2016, was named to the 2019 NL All-Star Team, and led the National League in RBI in 2019. He was a key member of the Nationals' 2019 World Series championship team.
Rendon signed a seven-year, $245 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels in December 2019. Rendon's tenure with the Angels has been marred by injuries, and he has played in only 257 games with the team over six seasons.
Early life
Rendon is the son of Rene and Bridget Rendon. He has a brother named David. Rendon is Mexican-American. For the first two and a half years of high school, Rendon attended George Bush High School, before transferring to Lamar High School. As a senior, he was a first-team 5A all-state shortstop and an All-Greater Houston selection by the Houston Chronicle after he hit.570 with eight home runs, 17 doubles, 56 runs batted in, 56 runs, and 13 stolen bases. Out of high school, Rendon was drafted in the 27th round of the Major League Baseball Draft by the Atlanta Braves. He turned down their signing bonus to play for Rice University and head coach Wayne Graham.College career
As a freshman in 2009, Rendon was named Baseball America's Freshman of the Year, All-America, Freshman All-American, NCBWA's District VII Player of the Year, NCAA All-Regional Team, Conference USA Player of the Year, All-Conference USA, Conference USA All-Tournament Team, and MVP of the Silver Glove Series with cross-town rival, University of Houston. As a true freshman, he hit.388 with 20 home runs and 72 runs batted in, starting in all 61 of the Owls' games. Rendon was also nominated for both the Dick Howser Trophy and the Golden Spikes Award in his first season at the college level. He led the conference in numerous offensive categories. In Rice's last game, in the Baton Rouge Super Regional, Rendon suffered an ankle injury that required surgery.As a sophomore in 2010, Rendon won the Dick Howser Trophy and was Baseball America's College Player of the Year, becoming the first underclassman in a decade to win the latter award. Additionally, he was named the Rawlings Sporting Goods National Player of the Year, Conference USA Male Athlete of the Year, District VII Player of the Year, First Team All-American, All-south Region, Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Austin Regional, All-Conference USA, All-Conference USA Tournament, and Conference USA Academic Honor Roll. He is only the second player to be named Conference USA Player of the Year twice. He finished the season hitting.394 with 26 home runs and 85 runs batted in, again starting in every one of the Owls' 63 games. Rendon's 26 home runs were the second-highest single season total in school history; the only other Owl to hit more home runs in a year was Lance Berkman. After his Rice season ended, Rendon was invited to represent his country playing on the international circuit for Team USA. He suffered another right ankle injury in the first game against South Korea.
Houston mayor Annise Parker declared June 29, 2010 to be "Anthony Rendon Day" in Houston. Rendon was a member of Wiess College while at Rice.
Professional career
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals selected Rendon in the first round, with the sixth overall selection, of the 2011 Major League Baseball draft. Following the 2012 season, many scouts rated Rendon as the best prospect in the Nationals organization and one of the top prospects in MLB.2013
Rendon started the 2013 season with the Double-A Harrisburg Senators. He was called up by the Washington Nationals on April 20 when Ryan Zimmerman was placed on the disabled list. Rendon was optioned back to the Harrisburg Senators when Zimmerman came off the disabled list on May 3.Rendon was recalled by the Nationals on June 4, 2013. He replaced second baseman Danny Espinosa. Days later, on June 15, Rendon clubbed his first major league home run off Vinnie Pestano of the Cleveland Indians. The ninth-inning solo shot put the Nationals on top and they won 7–6.
Rendon finished the season with the Nationals, putting up a.265/.329/.396 triple slash with seven home runs across 98 games with the major league club.
2014
After playing mostly second base the previous year, Rendon was moved back to his "natural position" as the Nationals' third baseman in the 2014 season. The year would be a breakout one for Rendon, who led the National League in runs scored, with 111, while putting up a.287/.351/.473 slash line, hitting 21 home runs, driving in 83 runs, and stealing 17 bases over the course of the season. Rendon placed fifth in National League Most Valuable Player voting and was awarded a Silver Slugger for his performance as a top-hitting third baseman. He ranked second among National League position players in wins above replacement, just behind Andrew McCutchen of the Pittsburgh Pirates.While Rendon emerged as a key cog in the Nationals' offense during the season, his prowess in the playoffs was noteworthy as well, as he hit.368 in the 2014 National League Division Series against the San Francisco Giants.
2015
Rendon sprained the medial collateral ligament in his left knee early during spring training in 2015, and then strained an oblique muscle while on a rehab assignment with the Class-AA Harrisburg Senators, being shut down on May 4. Rendon finally returned to major league action on June 4, 2015, but found himself moved back to second base, with the job of everyday third baseman being held down by new acquisition Yunel Escobar.Rendon was part of a spectacular defensive play in an August 15, 2015, game against the San Francisco Giants. A sharp grounder off the bat of Brandon Crawford was deflected off the glove of first baseman Clint Robinson, caroming high into the air. Playing deep on the infield shift, Rendon made a barehand grab on the deflected ball and fired to pitcher Felipe Rivero, who gloved it while diving across the first base bag to retire Crawford. Giants broadcasters Duane Kuiper and Mike Krukow described the play as one of the greatest they had ever seen.
All in all, Rendon played in just 80 regular-season games in 2015 and put up a.264/.344/.363 slash line. His power was noticeably sapped following the oblique injury, as he hit just five home runs over the course of the season.
2016
Rendon returned to form with a batting line over the course of the 2016 season closely mimicking his 2014 campaign, hitting.270/.348/.450 with 20 home runs and 85 RBIs. He avoided spending any time on the disabled list, appearing in all but six regular-season games for the Nationals and exclusively playing third base, with Escobar traded to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim during the off-season.On September 6, 2016, Rendon hit his first career grand slam off Williams Perez, which provided the Nationals with a winning margin of victory over the division rival Atlanta Braves in the 9–7 contest.
For his improved performance during the season, Rendon was named the National League Comeback Player of the Year.
2017
On April 30, 2017, Rendon went six-for-six with three home runs and 10 RBI in a 23–5 win over the division rival New York Mets. He became the 13th major leaguer with 10 or more RBI in one game while setting a Nationals record. He became the third player in major league history to attain both six hits and ten RBI in the same game, following Jim Bottomley and Walker Cooper.Despite leading all National League position players in wins above replacement during the first half of the season, Rendon was not selected to participate in the All-Star Game. He was one of the options in the "final vote" but lost out to Justin Turner of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Despite the All-Star snub, Rendon was named as Player of the Week in the National League on July 17, 2017, for the week abbreviated by the All-Star break. It was his first time so honored. Rendon hit.636 during the week with three home runs to earn the award. In 2017, he batted.301/.403/.533 with 25 home runs and 100 RBI.
2018
In 2018, Rendon batted.308 /.374/.535 with 24 home runs, and led the National League with 44 doubles.2019
Prior to the 2019 season, Rendon indicated a willingness to sign an extension with the Nationals. In September 2019, the Nationals reportedly offered him a seven-year extension worth $210-215 million.Rendon was selected to the 2019 MLB All-Star Game for the first time in his career. Rendon said he was honored to be chosen, but opted not to attend the game in Cleveland in order to recover from minor injuries.
In 2019, Rendon batted.319/.412/.598 with 34 home runs, led the NL with 44 doubles for the second year in a row, and led the majors in RBIs.
Rendon was also key to the Nationals' 2019 World Series win. He hit for a 1.003 OPS in the postseason to help lead the team to its first-ever World Series championship. He hit key home runs in Games 6 and 7 of the World Series, and his 8 RBIs for the 2019 World Series were the most by a Nationals player.
Following the 2019 World Series, Rendon and Nationals star pitcher Stephen Strasburg both entered free agency. Owner Mark Lerner indicated that the team would not be able to afford to sign both players.
During his seven seasons with the Nationals, Rendon batted.290 with 136 home runs and 546 RBIs.