What Anthony Rendon’s latest injury means for the Angels

Anthony Rendon returned to the list of victims.

The Angels’ star third baseman was placed on a 10-day IL with a groin strain retroactively on May 14 ahead of the team’s four-game streak with the Orioles in Baltimore. He played in two of the Angels’ three games against the Guardian in Cleveland last weekend, where he was pulled out in the eighth inning of Saturday’s game with a left groin squeeze.

This is another season in which Rendon will miss time due to injury. Rendon has only had one season without IL since signing with the Angels in December 2019, and that was a 60-game season in 2020.

The Angels called Levan Soto out of a double A, adding to their list of available fielders as an appropriate move. Soto debuted in September, playing 18 games, hitting 22-for-55 (.400 average) with nine runs scored, including one home run and nine RBIs. In 30 games between AAA and AAA this year, he batted .170 with a .560 OPS.

The good news is that, at this point, it doesn’t look like another major injury that derailed the season. and, unlike last season, the Angels are better prepared to go long periods without Rendon at third base.

Pickup during the off-season Gio Urshela, a natural third baseman, gave them proven major league depth in that corner that had already been shown. The Angels built up significant infield depth over the winter, and general manager Perry Minasian has been trying to prepare for just that: injuries have knocked several position players out of the game, as they did last season.

Rendon missed 11 games between serving a suspension at the start of the season and for load management. Urshela replaced Rendon, starting 10 games in third. Luis Rengifowho has placed third several times in his career, albeit slightly more effectively in 2022, also had one repeat in third this season with Rendon eliminated.

The Angels went 6-5 in the first 11 games Rendon missed this season and 21-20 overall. Last season, when Rendon missed most of the year after had surgery on his right wrist due to an ECU tendon subluxation, the Angels went 47–68 without Rendon in the lineup en route to a 73–89 record.

The disturbing news in the short term for the Angels is a consistent bat they are missing out on while the Angels are still trying to piece together the pieces of their puzzle with so many players coming and going due to injury or absence. production On Sunday, for example, the Angels nominated veteran pitcher Ryan Teper, who is still owed $7 million this year, to the assignment following his last underwhelming performance. They also called pitcher Zach Weiss and outfielder Mickey Moniac over the weekend. On Monday, they activated catcher Chad Wallach of IL.

There’s a reason why Angels manager Phil Nevin has touted Rendon’s keen eye on a plate several times. “Situationally, I don’t think there’s a better striker in the game than Anthony Rendon,” Nevin said during the final home stand.

At Nevin, Rendon deliberately cleared the ball. In the 26 games in which he went to plate with runners in scoring position, he was batting .357 with 1.036 OPS (44 plate appearances, 10 hits, two doubles, one home run, 19 RBI, eight walks).

Overall, Rendon has made progress this season after missing a significant portion of the previous two years due to serious injuries. In 30 games in 2023, Rendon is batting .301 on .784 on base plus misses, with 19 runs scored, including one home run, and 20 RBIs on 31 hits, including four doubles and 19 walks. (He hit .234 combined in his previous two injury-ridden seasons.)

In comparison, Urshela, who started 35 of 37 games this season in all infield positions, hit .283 with a .629 OPS, hit 16 runs, including one home run, and had 14 RBIs on 39 hits, including three doubles. and four walks. And Rengifo, who started 27 of 33 games in the infield and outfield, is batting .213 with a .622 OPS, 14 runs scored, including two home runs, and contributed 15 RBI in 20 hits, including two doubles, and 14 walks.

Adequate amount, and Urshela and Rengifo are certainly able to endure and get out of a clutch situation. But there’s a reason the Angels signed Randon to a $245 million contract.

In a season that many see as a mandatory win for the Angels, the AL West division still feels very promising. Yes, the team has one-sided defeats and other problems, but Rendon should also be in this squad.

It’s still early, but it’s not forever.