A solid start to Anthony Rendon’s season was a welcomed sign for the Los Angeles Angels, but a groin injury gave the team some pause, and they opted to place him on the injured list this past week.
Rendon posted a .301/.415/.369 slash with one homer and 20 RBI across 130 plate appearances, but his ability to drive runners in and give productive outs has been a huge plus for manager Phil Nevin. He played in 30 of the club’s first 40 games, which was easily his best stretch since joining the team on the seven-year, $245 million contract he signed before the 2020 season.
However, Rendon voiced that the injury was nagging at him, and according to Jeff Fletcher of The O.C. Register, his scans provide a positive outlook on his status:
The Angels were encouraged by the MRI results on third baseman Anthony Rendon, who is on the injured list with a strained groin.
“There are a few different spots where it’s at,” Nevin said. “Hopefully they all heal at the same time and it won’t be too long.”
His IL stint is retroactive to May 14, and according to Nevin, Rendon could be back with the team fairly soon if all things go well:
Nevin said Rendon will begin doing some baseball activity when the Angels return home this weekend, and they’ll re-evaluate him then.
The Angels will need him to return and stay on the field for the entirety of the regular season. But given that he played in just 105 games from 2021 to 2022, there’s a lot of expectation for the former World Series Most Valuable Player.
Angels expect Aaron Loup to return this week
Entering play on May 18, the Angels pen ranks eighth in Major League Baseball with a collective 3.54 ERA. With Austin Warren José Quijada going down with Tommy John surgery, and Aaron Loup and Ryan Tepera both landing on the injured list, they have needed to tap into their depth.
But after Loup felt something in his hamstring in early May, the Angels opted to place him on the IL.
Loup posted a 7.00 ERA and 3.91 FIP, and the Angels have noted this was a precautionary move and could serve as a reset for the veteran lefty.
Make sure to follow Angels Nation on Twitter for all the latest news and updates surrounding the Halos!