Major League Baseball is investigating an incident concerning Los Angeles Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon after he clashed with a fan during his team’s Opening Day game against the Oakland Athletics on Thursday.
In a video posted to social media, Rendon appeared to grab a fan by the shirt which led to a heated back-and-forth exchange. Rendon also seemed to aim a swipe at the fan too in the alarming video.
There are no videos that appear to show the lead-up to the incident, although Rendon was infuriated with the fan after his Angels fell 2-1 to the Athletics at the Oakland Coliseum. In the footage, Rendon appears to make a grab towards the fan’s jersey and said, “What’d you say? You called me a b****, huh?”
The fan denied Rendon’s accusation, but the Angels player continued to press the issue while still appearing to be holding the fan’s shirt. He then swiped towards the fan’s head as he wore a hat before being ushered down the tunnel.
The Oakland Police Department stated it was investigating a battery at the Oakland Coliseum captured on surveillance video, while MLB confirmed the league were investigating the issue. The statement read: “We are aware of the video and we are now looking into the matter.”
It's unclear what led to the altercation. The Angels reportedly expected the 32-year-old to address the media before Saturday’s game in Oakland - the their second match of the 2023 season.
However, Rendon declined to comment on the incident. Angels general manager Perry Minasian and manager Phil Nevin also declined to comment on the clash on Saturday morning due to the investigation.
Rendon is in the lineup for Saturday’s clash with Oakland, the second of their season-opening series. He is slated to bat fourth.
Rendon went 0-3 with a walk in the defeat on Thursday. Rendon is in his fourth year with the Angels after signing with the franchise ahead of the 2020 season, although he missed most of the 2022 campaign with a wrist injury.
