ANAHEIM, Calif. — Anthony Rendon had an RBI single Monday evening in his first recreation again after lacking almost three months as a result of a strained left hamstring.
“It isn’t going to take him lengthy. He appears to be like like he’s about prepared not less than swinging the bat,” supervisor Ron Washington mentioned after Rendon went 1-for-4 in a 9-4 loss to the Texas Rangers.
Rendon missed 68 video games after he strained his left hamstring whereas working out an infield hit in the course of the first inning towards the Cincinnati Reds on April 20.
He remained in Southern California final week whereas the Angels have been on a six-game street journey and confronted reside pitching on Friday and Saturday at Angel Stadium.
“Very long time coming,” Rendon mentioned earlier than the sport. “Able to carry on going and end the second half robust.”
Rendon mentioned the primary factor he did over the weekend was run the bases, which is one thing he wasn’t capable of do a lot till the previous week.
After speaking to Washington, Rendon will alternate between third base and designated hitter till he looks like he’s snug with the ability to play the sphere on consecutive days.
Rendon was hitting. 267 with 3 RBIs in 19 video games earlier than the harm. He began the season 0-for-19 earlier than going 20-for-56.
The 34-year outdated Rendon is within the fifth season of a $245 million, seven-year contract with the Angels, however has had a string of accidents over the previous 4 seasons. He has performed in solely 168 video games and missed 408 for the reason that begin of the 2021 season.
“He actually needed to carry out this 12 months,” Washington mentioned. “Too unhealthy the hamstring pushed him again. He had this date on the calendar and he is enthusiastic about it. He desires to come back out right here and present that he nonetheless desires to carry out.”
Rendon and three-time American League MVP Mike Trout have been in the identical lineup in solely 118 video games out of 576 since 2021 (20.5%). Trout had surgical procedure on his left knee Could 3 and hopes to return to the lineup by late July.
Trout did some work on the sphere earlier than the sport, together with jogging and hitting off a batting tee.
The Angels (37-53) have dropped seven of their previous eight video games and path the Seattle Mariners by 11 video games within the AL West.
With Rendon out of the lineup, the Angels batted .239 within the leadoff spot, the eighth-lowest common within the majors.
“We had a fairly good June after which the final street journey did not go in addition to we hoped,” Rendon mentioned. “Hopefully we are able to flip issues round and attempt to get the ball rolling for the second half.”
Infielder Miguel Sano was designated for task to make room for Rendon.