ANAHEIM — A day after Anthony Rendon doubled his season hit total in one game, he said there was no adjustment that flipped a switch from cold to hot.
“I don’t really know,” the Angels’ third baseman said on Tuesday. “Nothing’s really changed. Just trying to stay adamant about my work. Continue talking with the hitting coaches and just keep working every day. They’re finally just falling.”
Rendon began the season in an 0-for-21 slump. Since then, he has six hits in 16 at-bats, including three hits on Monday night.
Manager Ron Washington said Rendon was showing signs even when he was hitless that he was on the right track.
“Rendon is a hands hitter,” Washington said. “A hands hitter has to be able to stay behind the ball, and if you notice earlier he was behind the ball but late. Now, the more at-bats you get and more comfortable that he’d become with his hands, then you start getting them out there.”
Rendon’s first hit was a chopper to third base last Friday night.
“That opened up the floodgates and now he’s centering the ball the way he’s capable of centering the ball,” Washington said.
While Rendon’s performance has been uneven, he has at least remained on the field. He was in the lineup for the 10th time in 11 games on Tuesday. He said he’s feeling “pretty good.”
“Just trying to continue to stay on top of my body and do some maintenance stuff,” Rendon said. “Just trying to be happy being out there every day, especially how it’s been the last few years.”
Rendon’s injuries, which have cost him much of the past three years, are one of the reasons that he was booed loudly by a segment of fans throughout the first homestand. It also didn’t help that there’s a perception that he’s not sufficiently committed to baseball, which existed even before he proclaimed in spring training that his family is a higher priority than baseball.
Amid all that, another segment of fans has cheered Rendon loudly this week, in an effort to encourage him to move past his struggles.
Asked about both extremes, Rendon said: “It’s all good. It’s just unfortunate that sometimes my words and my interviews get taken out of context. It’s nothing that I’ve been in control of.”
NOTES
The Angels still have not released any information on pitcher Chase Silseth’s MRI exam. Silseth (elbow inflammation) said he felt something on a few breaking balls during Sunday’s start, and it was enough to place him on the injured list. …
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Right-hander Robert Stephenson (shoulder inflammation) came through his live batting practice session well on Tuesday, Washington said. “I think we’re about to get him out of here and on a rehab,” Washington said. Stephenson is expected to need at least a couple weeks worth of outings because he didn’t pitch in any games in spring training. …
Zach Neto was not in the lineup on Tuesday. Neto was hitting .200 with 10 strikeouts in 35 at-bats. “Just pressing,” Washington said. “I think he’s chasing hits instead of chasing the baseball and letting the hits happen. Just chasing it, so I wanted to give him a mental break today.”
UP NEXT
Rays (RHP Zack Littell, 1-0, 0.82 ERA) at Angels (RHP José Soriano, 0-1, 4.50), Wednesday, 1:07 p.m., Bally Sports West, 830 AM
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