Anthony Rendon
An in-depth look at the life and career of American baseball star Anthony Rendon — from his rise with the Nationals to his ill-fated big contract with the Angels — including achievements, challenges, and personal philosophy.
Introduction
Anthony Michael Rendon (born June 6, 1990) is an American professional baseball third baseman who has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Washington Nationals and the Los Angeles Angels.
Rendon has been known for his well-rounded skills — combining offense, defense, and baseball intelligence — and for key contributions in championship contexts. However, his career has also been marked by injuries and unmet expectations in recent years.
Early Life and Family
Rendon was born in Houston, Texas to Rene and Bridget Rendon. He has a brother named David.
He is of Mexican-American heritage.
Rendon attended George Bush High School for about two and a half years before transferring to Lamar High School in Houston.
-
In high school, in his senior year he hit .570 with 8 home runs, 56 RBIs, among other strong numbers.
-
He was a first-team All-State 5A shortstop and an All-Greater Houston selection.
Out of high school, Rendon was drafted in the 27th round by the Atlanta Braves, but he opted not to sign and instead went on to play college baseball.
College Career
Rendon enrolled at Rice University, playing for the Rice Owls.
-
In his freshman year (2009), he earned a suite of honors: Baseball America Freshman of the Year, All-America selections, Conference USA Player of the Year, and more.
-
In 2010, as a sophomore, he won the Dick Howser Trophy (given to the national college baseball player of the year) and was named Baseball America’s College Player of the Year.
-
That season he hit .394 with 26 home runs and 85 RBIs.
His performance in college established him as one of the top amateur prospects in the country.
Professional Career
Entry into MLB & Washington Nationals (2013–2019)
-
Rendon was selected 6th overall in the 2011 MLB Draft by the Washington Nationals.
-
He made his MLB debut on April 21, 2013 with the Nationals.
-
In 2014, he moved to his “natural” position at third base and put up a breakout season: he led the Nationals in many categories, earned a Silver Slugger Award, and garnered MVP votes.
-
Over subsequent years, he established himself as one of the more complete third basemen: combining batting average, power, situational hitting, and fielding.
-
In 2016 he won the NL Comeback Player of the Year award after a strong rebound performance.
-
The highlight came in 2019:
-
He was selected to the All-Star team.
-
He led the National League in RBIs (126).
-
He was named to the All-MLB First Team.
-
The Nationals won the World Series, and Rendon made crucial contributions, including key hits in Games 6 and 7.
-
His time in Washington is often seen as the peak of his career: high performance, reliability, and big moments.
Move to Los Angeles Angels & Struggles (2020–present)
-
In December 2019, Rendon signed a 7-year, $245 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels.
-
The deal was meant to pair him with Mike Trout and boost the Angels’ chances.
-
However, Rendon’s tenure with the Angels has been hampered by persistent injuries, limited playing time, and underwhelming performance.
-
Injuries have affected various parts of his body: hip, hamstring, groin, wrist, back among others.
-
He has rarely played a full season; his best season with the Angels has involved fewer than 60 games.
-
-
In 2023, he was involved in a physical altercation with a fan, resulting in a 4-game suspension.
-
Also in 2023, he fractured his tibia by fouling a ball off his leg, ending his season prematurely.
-
In 2024, he began the season hitting .267 over 19 games, but then suffered a hamstring strain.
-
As of February 2025, the Angels announced that Rendon requires hip surgery and will be out for a “long term” period, casting serious doubt on his return.
Over his full career, he has accumulated approximately:
-
Batting average: .280
-
Hits: 1,218
-
Home runs: 158
-
Runs batted in (RBIs): 671
-
Career WAR (Wins Above Replacement): ~34.2
Historical Milestones & Context
-
Rendon’s move to the Angels was one of the biggest free agent contracts of the 2019–2020 offseason, and raised expectations for his role in turning around the franchise.
-
His 2019 season with the Nationals is often referenced as one of the most complete offensive seasons by a third baseman in modern times, especially considering his contributions to a championship team.
-
His struggles in Los Angeles have also become cautionary examples in sports discussions about large contracts with aging or injury-prone players.
Personality, Values & Life Off the Field
-
Rendon is often described as quiet, modest, and low-key in demeanor.
-
He has publicly said his priorities lie with faith and family over baseball.
-
He is a born-again Christian.
-
He is married to Amanda (Rodriguez) since November 25, 2017.
-
They have four children.
-
Rendon maintains ties to Houston, his home city. He and fellow Houston native Matt Albers organized a fundraiser for the Houston Food Bank following Hurricane Harvey.
-
Earlier in interviews, he has joked that he prefers watching the History Channel over watching baseball, calling the games “too long and boring.”
Notable Observations & Insights
-
Rendon’s trajectory is a reminder that even highly talented and accomplished athletes are vulnerable to injuries and physical decline.
-
His commitment to family and faith suggests he places identity beyond sport, which may help explain how he copes with setbacks.
-
His golden years in Washington reflect what he can do when healthy, but his Los Angeles years reflect the uncertainties inherent in long, big-money deals in sports.
-
His handling of adversity (injuries, fan criticism, performance pressures) offers lessons in humility, perseverance, and realistic expectation management.