Angels' Rendon could be ready before All-Star break after more than two months out

Anthony Rendon of the Angels smiles during batting practice before a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Saturday, March 30, 2024, in Baltimore. He’s still struggling to face live pitchers after a hamstring injury kept him sidelined for more than two months. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)

ANAHEIM — A six-game road trip awaits the Angels, who then should finally see the return of third baseman Anthony Rendon when they play at home July 8 against the Texas Rangers.

With the team playing in Oakland and Chicago to face the Cubs next week, Rendon will be putting the finishing touches on his rehabilitation from a partially torn hamstring that sidelined him for more than two months.

The big step will come next weekend when Rendon faces live pitchers in a controlled setting at Angel Stadium either Thursday and Friday or Friday and Saturday, according to manager Ron Washington.

“When we come back, hopefully, he’ll be ready to go right before the All-Star break,” Washington said.

As of now, it doesn’t appear Rendon is headed on a minor league rehab mission.

“They’re still trying to make a decision, to convince him,” Washington said. “Now it’s the player’s decision. And you can talk to them as much as you want. If they decide they don’t want to go… I’m not going to hammer a nail. I’m not going to make it a problem because he doesn’t want to go to rehab. You have the right to decide whether you want to go or not. »

Mike Trout has also avoided participating in minor league rehab assignments in recent seasons, last appearing in an official minor league game in 2017 when he was on the mend after surgery. thumb.

Washington, who brought an old-school culture back to the Angels this season, admitted a preference for injury rehabilitation assignments for hitters.

“I’m not going to make an issue of it,” Washington said. “Yes, deep down it bothers me, but I’m not going to make an issue of it because there’s nothing I can do about it. It’s the law. So I’m going to comply with the law.”

“You would hope he would go… but if he doesn’t want to go, that’s not a problem for me. I have enough things (going on) to worry about something like that.

ALMOST THERE

Brandon Drury, absent for almost two weeks due to an upper respiratory illness, could start on Tuesday in Oakland. Washington said Drury was available off the bench Saturday and again Sunday.

Drury last played on June 18 and, while he has struggled this season, with a .173 batting average and .233 on-base percentage, he has a hit in three of his last four games.

Even with Drury’s imminent return and plans to activate Rendon soon, Washington still intends to get as much playing time as possible for Luis Rengifo, including at designated hitter if that warrants it.

Rengifo entered Sunday’s game with a .329 batting average since June 9, an 18-game stretch, with homers in the first two games of the series against the Tigers.

NEW FRIENDS

The Anaheim Ducks’ two first-round picks participated in a doubles first-pitch ceremony, with forward Beckett Sennecke and defenseman Stian Solberg each receiving the honor. Sennecke, a native of Canada, was the third overall pick on Friday, while Solberg, a native of Norway, was selected 23rd overall.

Both players wore the team’s new orange jersey with the menacing retro duck-billed goalie mask.

Galaxy defenseman Eriq Zavaleta, who was participating in the Angels’ celebration of Salvadoran heritage, also threw out a separate first pitch.

FOLLOWING

The angels are off on Monday.

Angels (RHP Jose Soriano, 4-5, 3.48 ERA) at Oakland (RHP Mitch Spence, 4-4, 4.35 ERA), Tuesday, 6:40 p.m., Bally Sports West, 8:30 a.m.