The Los Angeles Angels have been without their starting third baseman since mid-May.
They placed Anthony Rendon on the injured list on May 15, retroactive to May 14, with a left groin strain.
Groin strains are extremely unpredictable and have a rather high re-aggravation rate, so the team has been cautious with their expensive infielder.
He is, however, nearing a return, per Sam Blum.
A real update on Rendon from Phil Nevin: The hope is that he’ll return shortly after the off-day on Monday when the team is back home. https://t.co/78bFhQ2R2u
— Sam Blum (@SamBlum3) May 31, 2023
There it is: the Angels are planning to have Rendon back by early next week.
His pending return puts some pressure on Jared Walsh to produce if he wants to keep getting playing time.
When Rendon is ready to come back, he will likely send Gio Urshela to first base, or at least that’s what the logic indicates.
Rendon wasn’t having his best season in the power department, but was at least performing well in other aspects of the game.
He was slashing .301/.415/.369 at the moment of getting hurt, with just one home run in 30 games and 130 plate appearances.
From 2016 to 2019, Rendon hit at least 20 homers per season, peaking at 34 in 2019 when he won the World Series with the Washington Nationals.
That year earned him a seven-year, $245 million deal with the Angels.
Rendon, however, has been unable to surpass even 10 round-trippers in any season after 2019.
Injuries, controversies, and power slumps have gotten in his way.
Hopefully, he can fully get going once he returns to the Angels lineup.
Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani need his help if LA is going to mount a series postseason run.
He has the potential to be that third star the team needs.
NEXT: Photo Shows Shohei Ohtani And The Perfect Home Run Celebration
