Major League Baseball is investigating the incident in which the Angels' third baseman grabbed a fan's shirt and took a swipe at him Thursday in Oakland
OAKLAND — A day after video of Anthony Rendon engaging in an altercation with a fan circulated on social media, the Angels circled the wagons and said little, citing the ongoing Major League Baseball investigation.
The Angels’ third baseman stood in front of dozens of reporters on the field Saturday at RingCentral Stadium and declined to answer any questions about the incident.
“I’m sorry I can’t comment,” Rendon said in response to several different versions of questions about what happened between him and a fan after Thursday’s season-opening loss.
Wow! Uncool! pic.twitter.com/FNRFWL46A0
— PetrosAndMoneyShow (@PetrosAndMoney) March 31, 2023
Video showed Rendon reaching up to grab the shirt of a fan wearing A’s apparel. He then called the fan a “mother——“ and swiped toward his head with his left hand. Rendon seemed to be responding to verbal abuse the fan had directed at him.
A second video surfaced Saturday that showed Rendon waved the fan over to the railing before the incident.
Here’s a new video, by the way.
— Jeff Fletcher (@JeffFletcherOCR) April 1, 2023
Major League Baseball is investigating, a league spokesperson said Friday.
If Rendon is suspended, it would be his second suspension in less than a year. He was suspended for five games for his part in a brawl between the Angels and Mariners in June. Rendon, who was on the injured list after undergoing wrist surgery, was on the field taking swings with his arm in a cast.
Rendon was able to rehab his injury quickly enough to serve that suspension at the end of last season, so he could be available for Opening Day this year.
Rendon also may be the subject of an Oakland Police Department investigation. The OPD released a statement Friday indicating it was an investigating an incident at the address of the stadium.
“The Oakland Police Department (OPD) is investigating a battery that occurred on March 30, 2023, following an event in the 7000 block of Joe Morgan Way. At this time, no victim has contacted OPD, however, surveillance video of the incident has surfaced. As a result, OPD created an incident, made a report, and is actively investigating.”
Citing the ongoing investigations, Angels general manager Perry Minasian and manager Phil Nevin declined to say much about the incident.
“Obviously it’s in MLB’s hands right now,” Minasian said. “At this point, I can’t talk about it. But at some point, I will.”
Nevin and Minasian led a team meeting in the clubhouse before Saturday’s game, which was the Angels’ first game since the incident came to light Friday.
“We talked briefly,” Nevin said. “As always, we have those intimate moments between myself and the players. They stay in there. We talked a little bit.”
Asked if the incident could become a distraction for his team, Nevin said: “For the moment, maybe because a lot of media is here, but I don’t think so. I’ve said all along that we’ve got a great group in there. The one thing that I was most proud of last year and then continuing through the spring was the way this team bonded and jelled together. They’re all going to stand together now. It was evident when we met earlier.”
Rendon was in the lineup for Saturday’s game.
Hunter Renfroe, who was standing next to Rendon when the incident happened Thursday, did not comment on the confrontation, but did say he didn’t believe the Angels would be distracted.
“Business as usual today,” Renfroe said. “We’ve got a baseball game today. We’ve got to play, no matter what happens.”
Ballpark security was stationed by the railing near the Angels’ dugout, with instructions to intercede at the first sign of a conflict.
