OC Register: Angels’ Anthony Rendon says hip issue contributed to his disappointing season, on the field and off

[AngelsWin.com]

ANAHEIM — Anthony Rendon said he was actually somewhat relieved when he found out why he’d had such a miserable season.

“I definitely think there was a point in there where I thought I was going crazy,” Rendon said. “Everyone was looking at me like I was. I was to the point where I was almost convincing myself that maybe I am making this up. But kind of digging deeper, getting pictures and speaking with specialists, speaking with guys with a prior history, it kind of put me at ease a little bit that we’re able to find answers.”

The Angels’ third baseman is scheduled to undergo season-ending surgery next week to repair a right hip impingement.

Speaking to the media for the first time since the injury was announced last week, Rendon said Thursday that he had been feeling something in his hip all season, and to a lesser degree last season. He suggested that it contributed to the groin injury that sidelined him in April and the hamstring injury that landed him on the injured list in July. His other injury, in May, was the result of a foul ball off his leg.

“I was confused why I would have multiple non-contact injuries in the first half of the season,” Rendon said.

He added that once he learned of the hip injury, they were “able to pinpoint all the pieces and put the puzzle together.”

Rendon said that the hip injury also played a part in his performance in between stints on the injured list. He hit .240 with six homers and a .712 OPS. He had a .949 OPS over the previous four seasons, the last three of which set him up to receive a seven-year, $245 million deal from the Angels in December 2019.

“It just felt like I had no legs,” Rendon said. “Obviously your legs are a crucial part of this game, from getting to a ground ball and obviously hitting. It just felt weak. I couldn’t rotate. I had a stabbing pain going into my hip. It felt like a clamp was grabbing the front of my hip and the back of my butt. That’s not a good feeling on a daily basis.”

Now, he is hoping that surgery can give him a fresh start for the remaining five years of his contract. He said “the game plan” is for him to be ready to play when spring training begins, but he cautioned that no rehab plan is firm until after the surgeon gets a look inside.

LOOKING AHEAD

As Manager Joe Maddon watched the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees playing in a cornfield on the video board before the Angels’ game against Toronto on Thursday night, it prompted discussion of the Angels’ participation in one of MLB’s special events later this month.

The Angels and Cleveland Indians will play in the Little League Classic on Aug. 22 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. The game is played at a minor league stadium in the same city as the 16-team Little League World Series. The Little League players will attend the big league game and interact with the major leaguers in a variety of events surrounding the game.

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Maddon grew up about an hour from Williamsport, and he managed the Chicago Cubs in the Little League Classic a few years ago.

“When you get back there, if you are not revitalized, if you’re having any kind of cynical thoughts about what you’re doing … if it doesn’t recapture moments for you internally, nothing ever will,” Maddon said. “That means you’re pretty much near death. So it’s really, really exciting to all of us.”

NOTES

The Angels activated relief pitcher Steve Cishek from the bereavement list and optioned reliever Aaron Slegers. Slegers pitched the final four innings of Wednesday’s game. …

Catcher Max Stassi, who was hit in the elbow by a pitch on Wednesday night, remained on the active roster on Thursday. Maddon said Stassi actually felt better on Thursday than he did the night before.

UP NEXT

Angels (LHP Patrick Sandoval, 3-5, 3.39 ERA) vs. Astros (RHP Zack Greinke, 10-3, 3.69), Friday, 6:38 p.m., Bally Sports West, 830 AM

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[Angel Oracle]

It’s indeed a relief to find that out, but does it usually take that long for a medical staff to connect the hip issue to the other non-contact injuries?

[rafibomb]

Well it definitely makes a lot of sense now why it seemed like Rendon wasn't getting a lot behind his swing this year.

[tdawg87]

Oh hell yeah, the BSOHL torch has been passed on!

[Pheenom07]

Fixing his hip certainly couldn’t lead to worse production.  Right?  Right? 

[Angel Oracle]

Stassi became better than ever after his hip surgery.

 

 

Jinx disclaimer - knock on lots of wood.

[Mark PT]

20 hours ago, Angel Oracle said:

It’s indeed a relief to find that out, but does it usually take that long for a medical staff to connect the hip issue to the other non-contact injuries?

It shouldn't. But given the number of UCL injuries and a calf strain that takes longer than several weeks to heal lead one to the belief that someone is not good at their job.

[AngelsLakersFan]

The article didn't mention how his hip issues contributed to his disappointing season off the field... I guess Jeff Fletcher left that part off the record.

[Angelsjunky]

.261/.372/.436, 15 HR, 3.4 WAR, 125 wRC+ in 110 games as an Angel = $38.1M

.285/.343/.516, 30 HR, 3.3 WAR, 133 wRC+ in 154 games in Albert's first year as an Angel = $12M

Conclusion:

1) Albert > Rendon

2) Now you know what to expect for the next five years of Rendon as an Angel. Impinged hip, my ass.

#mang4ever