Rendon confronts Oakland fan following a loss
Los Angeles Angels’ third baseman Anthony Rendon is being investigated by Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Oakland Police Department after an altercation between him and an Oakland Athletics fan on the opening day of the MLB season. The incident took place just after the Angels lost to the Athletics 2-1, and Rendon was caught on camera confronting a fan through the guardrails.
Rendon’s side of the story
According to Rendon, he confronted the fan because he had called him a derogatory name. “What did you say? You called me a bitch, huh?” Rendon could be heard saying in a video that has since gone viral. The fan denied the claim, but Rendon added, “Yeah, you did. Yeah, motherf—-,” as he let go of the man’s shirt and took a swipe at him, which did not connect.
MLB is investigating the incident
MLB has confirmed that it is investigating the incident involving Rendon, but neither the league nor the Angels organization have made any public statement about it. Angels General Manager Perry Minasian has declined to comment on the incident while it is under investigation.
Oakland Police Department is also investigating
The Oakland Police Department has launched its own investigation into what it is describing as “battery” that occurred on March 30, 2023, following an event in the 7000 block of Joe Morgan Way. As yet, there has been no official response from the department.
Witnesses describe what happened
One baseball fan who witnessed the altercation said that Rendon was specifically looking for the fan and that he returned later looking to apologize. It is unclear what sparked the confrontation or why Rendon felt the need to confront the fan in the first place.
Angels Manager Phil Nevin declines to comment
Angels Manager Phil Nevin declined to comment on the incident when asked about it at a news conference following the game. However, he did say that such incidents unfortunately happen a lot in the world of baseball. Nevin believes that the incident will not distract players from upcoming games as the team has bonded and gelled together.
Rendon avoids questions during pregame warmups
Rendon avoided questions about the incident during pregame warmups ahead of the team’s next game against the Athletics. He refused to comment during a news conference on the incident, saying only that he was focused on playing baseball and helping his team win.
Will this be a lingering distraction for the Angels?
Many fans are wondering whether this incident will be a lingering distraction for the Angels as they attempt to win games and make it to the playoffs. The team has struggled in recent years, failing to qualify for postseason play since 2018.
In conclusion, Anthony Rendon’s altercation with an Oakland Athletics fan has drawn attention from both Major League Baseball and law enforcement officials as they look into what led up to this confrontation. While there are many different accounts of what happened, it is clear that Rendon and the fan exchanged words before Rendon took a swipe at him. Fans will be waiting to see what comes out of these investigations as they hope for a resolution to this unfortunate incident.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
