Perry Minasian, the general manager of the Los Angeles Angels, stepped forward to support Anthony Rendon amidst criticism surrounding the third baseman’s recent remarks about baseball.
Minasian conveyed to Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register on Tuesday, “Anthony is extremely devoted to perfecting his craft.” He emphasized Rendon’s diligence, evident in his pregame rituals, batting practice, and commitment to conditioning. Minasian pointed out the challenges Rendon has faced in the past three years due to injuries, affecting his performance despite his efforts.
Rendon’s recent comments, labeling baseball as “a job” and prioritizing his faith and family over the sport, have stirred controversy. Earlier, former teammate Jonathan Papelbon went as far as suggesting Rendon harbors disdain for baseball, especially after Rendon advocated for a shorter MLB season.
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Minasian countered this narrative, asserting Rendon’s dedication to the game. He highlighted Rendon’s relentless work ethic, desire for success, and leadership qualities crucial for the team’s cohesion.
“This is somebody that works his tail off, wants to play well, wants to win wants to bring people with him, which I think is really, really important,” the GM said.
“And it’s somebody that we need. We need them to have an impactful year on the field and in the clubhouse.”
Minasian stressed Rendon’s significance to the Angels, both on and off the field, emphasizing the need for his impactful contributions in the upcoming season.
Despite Rendon’s injury-plagued tenure with the Angels since signing a lucrative contract in 2020, he has managed to appear in 200 games, tallying 22 home runs and 111 RBIs with a .758 OPS during that period.
