OAKLAND — Anthony Rendon, the Los Angeles Angels’ third baseman caught on a video that went viral taking a swing at a fan on Opening Day, was in the lineup and batting cleanup Saturday against the Athletics.
Rendon declined comment to reporters due to a pending investigation, although it was unclear if the incident was being investigated by Major League Baseball, the Oakland Police Department or both.
“I don’t even know,” Rendon said. “They haven’t told me.”
An MLB official said they “are aware of the video and looking in to the matter.”
Oakland Police Department spokesman Kim Armstead said “no victim has contacted OPD, however, surveillance video of the incident has surfaced.”
Armstead said an incident report has been filed and OPD is “actively investigating.”
A short video posted on Twitter for a Los Angeles sports talk show catches Rendon uttering a profanity at a fan who he believed was being abusive. The fan was being pushed by another spectator toward the Angels who were departing behind home plate. Rendon grabbed the fan briefly, then took a swipe that did not connect.
Here’s a new video, by the way.
— Jeff Fletcher (@JeffFletcherOCR) April 1, 2023
The Angels held a pregame closed door meeting but manager Phil Nevin would not go into specifics.
“We’re not commenting on it right now,” Nevin said.
Nevin said he has no issues with Rendon in a general sense.
“I still feel the same way about Anthony as I’ve felt all along,” Nevin said. “We just can’t comment about the actual incident right now. There’s an investigation going on.”
A’s manager Mark Kotsay said the club has a security chief on the road and players are briefed on how to handle situations involving verbally abusive fans.
“There’s a lot of emotion that goes into this game, especially on Opening Night,” Kotsay said. “We’re held accountable for our actions and at times it can be difficult to block out verbal attacks and accusations on you as a person. You’re always trying to do what’s right and I think emotions may have gotten the best of that situation.”
While not addressing the Rendon matter directly, Nevin said “This happens a lot, unfortunately and a lot of times we don’t see it. You’re going to hear things all the time. They pay money, they come in to watch a game. You hear it a lot.”
Rendon went 0-for-3 as the Angels lost to the A’s 2-1. His name drew a chorus of boos from the fans when starting lineups were announced.
