Anthony Michael Rendon is an American baseball third baseman currently playing for the Los Angeles Angels in Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played for the Washington Nationals and was a key member of their 2019 World Series championship team.
June 6, 1990: Birth of Anthony Rendon
Anthony Michael Rendon was born on June 6, 1990. He would go on to become an American baseball third baseman, playing for teams such as the Los Angeles Angels and the Washington Nationals. His birth marked the beginning of the journey for a future MLB star.
2009: Outstanding Freshman Year at Rice University
In 2009, Anthony Rendon had an exceptional freshman year at Rice University. He was named Baseball America's Freshman of the Year and earned numerous accolades including All-America, Freshman All-American, and Conference USA Player of the Year. He hit .388 with 20 home runs and 72 RBIs, but his season ended with an ankle injury requiring surgery.
June 29, 2010: Anthony Rendon Day
On June 29, 2010, Houston mayor Annise Parker declared it "Anthony Rendon Day" in Houston. This honor recognized Rendon's contributions and achievements while he was a student and athlete at Rice University.
2010: Winning the Dick Howser Trophy and Multiple Accolades
As a sophomore in 2010, Anthony Rendon won the Dick Howser Trophy and was named Baseball America's College Player of the Year. He received numerous other accolades, including Conference USA Male Athlete of the Year and Rawlings Sporting Goods National Player of the Year. Rendon hit .394 with 26 home runs and 85 RBIs.
2010: Winning the 2010 Dick Howser Trophy
In 2010, Anthony Rendon, playing for the Rice University Owls, won the prestigious Dick Howser Trophy. This award recognized him as the best player in collegiate baseball for that year.
2011: Selected in 2011 MLB Draft
Anthony Rendon was selected sixth overall by the Washington Nationals in the 2011 MLB draft. This selection marked the beginning of his journey in Major League Baseball.
2011: Selected in 2011 MLB Draft
The Washington Nationals selected Anthony Rendon in the first round, sixth overall, in the 2011 Major League Baseball draft. This marked the beginning of his professional baseball career.
2012: Top Prospect Status
Following the 2012 season, Anthony Rendon was rated as the best prospect in the Washington Nationals organization and one of the top prospects in MLB. This recognition highlighted his potential and talent in baseball.
June 4, 2013: Recalled by Nationals
Anthony Rendon was recalled by the Washington Nationals on June 4, 2013, to replace second baseman Danny Espinosa. This recall marked a significant point in his early MLB career.
2013: Starting 2013 Season with Double-A Harrisburg Senators
Anthony Rendon began 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, but was later optioned back when Zimmerman returned.
2013: MLB Debut
Anthony Rendon made his Major League Baseball debut in 2013. His entry into the major leagues marked a significant step in his professional baseball career.
2014: Notable Playoff Performance
Anthony Rendon showcased his offensive prowess in the 2014 National League Division Series against the San Francisco Giants, hitting .368. His performance was a key highlight of his 2014 season.
2014: Breakout Season and Silver Slugger Award
In 2014, Anthony Rendon had a breakout season as the Nationals' third baseman, leading the National League in runs scored with 111. He hit 21 home runs and stole 17 bases, earning a Silver Slugger Award and placing fifth in National League MVP voting.
June 4, 2015: Return to Major League Action
After recovering from a medial collateral ligament sprain and an oblique strain, Anthony Rendon returned to major league action on June 4, 2015. His return was marked by a position change to second base.
August 15, 2015: Spectacular Defensive Play
On August 15, 2015, Anthony Rendon was part of a spectacular defensive play against the San Francisco Giants. Rendon made a barehand grab and threw to first, completing one of the greatest plays as described by Giants broadcasters.
2015: Injury-Plagued Season
Anthony Rendon played in just 80 games during the 2015 season due to injuries. He posted a .264/.344/.363 slash line and hit only five home runs, showing a noticeable decline in power.
September 6, 2016: First Career Grand Slam
On September 6, 2016, Anthony Rendon hit his first career grand slam off Williams Perez, securing a win for the Nationals over the Atlanta Braves with a 9-7 victory.
2016: Return to Form
In 2016, Anthony Rendon returned to form with a .270/.348/.450 batting line and 20 home runs. He avoided the disabled list and played in nearly all regular-season games, marking a successful comeback season.
April 30, 2017: Record-Breaking Game
On April 30, 2017, Anthony Rendon went six-for-six with three home runs and 10 RBI in a 23-5 win over the New York Mets. He set a Nationals record and became the third player in MLB history to achieve both six hits and ten RBIs in one game.
July 17, 2017: Named National League Player of the Week
On July 17, 2017, Anthony Rendon was named the National League Player of the Week for the first time in his career. Despite not being selected for the All-Star Game, he earned the accolade by hitting .636 with three home runs during the week abbreviated by the All-Star break.
July 26, 2018: Birth of First Child
On July 26, 2018, Anthony Rendon and his wife Amanda welcomed their first child, a daughter. Rendon took leave from the Nationals for several days to attend to the birth.
2018: Impressive Performance in 2018 Season
In 2018, Anthony Rendon batted .308, placing 4th in the National League, with an on-base percentage of .374 and a slugging percentage of .535. He hit 24 home runs and led the National League with 44 doubles.
September 2019: Nationals Offer Extension
In September 2019, the Washington Nationals offered Anthony Rendon a seven-year contract extension worth between $210 million and $215 million. Rendon had previously indicated a willingness to sign an extension with the team.
December 11, 2019: Agrees to Contract with Los Angeles Angels
On December 11, 2019, Anthony Rendon agreed to a seven-year, $245 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels. This agreement came two days after the Nationals signed Stephen Strasburg to a similar deal.
December 14, 2019: Formally Introduced as an Angel
Anthony Rendon was formally introduced as a member of the Los Angeles Angels on December 14, 2019, following his seven-year, $245 million contract agreement.
2019: Key Role in Nationals' World Series Win
In 2019, Anthony Rendon had a standout season, batting .319/.412/.598 with 34 home runs and leading the NL with 44 doubles. He also led the majors in RBIs (126) and played a crucial role in the Nationals' first World Series championship by hitting key home runs in Games 6 and 7. His 8 RBIs in the World Series were the most by a Nationals player.
2019: 2019 World Series Championship
Anthony Rendon was a key member of the Washington Nationals' team that won the 2019 World Series. This year marked a significant milestone in his career, as he contributed to the Nationals' first-ever championship title.
July 28, 2020: Angels Debut
On July 28, 2020, Anthony Rendon made his debut with the Los Angeles Angels in the shortened 60-game season.
August 10, 2020: 1000th MLB Career Hit
On August 10, 2020, Anthony Rendon ended a 28 plate-appearance hitless streak by hitting a home run off Sean Manaea of the Oakland Athletics. This hit marked his 1000th MLB career hit.
May 10, 2022: First Left-Handed Home Run
On May 10, 2022, during Reid Detmers' no-hitter, Anthony Rendon hit his first left-handed home run against position player pitcher Brett Phillips. This was also the first time Rendon batted left-handed in a major league game.
April 3, 2023: Confrontation with Fan
On April 3, 2023, Anthony Rendon was involved in a physical confrontation with a fan after the Angels' Opening Day game against the Oakland Athletics. Rendon grabbed the fan by his shirt and accused him of heckling, using profanities and attempting to slap him. Rendon received a four-game suspension and a fine for the incident.
April 20, 2024: Hamstring Strain Injury
On April 20, 2024, Anthony Rendon suffered a left hamstring strain while attempting to beat out a ground ball. The injury was diagnosed as a high-grade partial tear, leading to his transfer to the 60-day injured list on May 9.