A video circulating on social media appears to show Los Angeles Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon grab and attempt to hit an Oakland A’s fan following Thursday night’s game at the Oakland Coliseum.
The A’s scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth and went on to win 2-1. Video taken near the tunnel connecting the visiting dugout and clubhouse shows Rendon grabbing a fan by the shirt and asking “what did you say?” before asserting that the fan called him a bitch.
Rendon appears to let go of the fan’s shirt and tries to knock the fan’s hat off before proceeding into the tunnel.
Wow! Uncool! pic.twitter.com/FNRFWL46A0
— PetrosAndMoneyShow (@PetrosAndMoney) March 31, 2023
Outfielder Hunter Renfroe can be seen walking past Rendon before stopping to view the interaction, while star pitcher Shohei Ohtani, who struck out 10 in his first outing of the year, took a quick glance while walking by.
Rendon, who is in the fourth season of a seven-year, $245 million contract, has battled injuries throughout his time with the Angels. He has played in just 158 of a possible 385 games since signing the deal. He went 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts in Thursday’s season opener.
His strikeout in the top of the eighth inning left two men on base, and the A’s went on to take the lead in the bottom of the eighth on Tony Kemp’s RBI double and Aledmys Diaz’s RBI single. Those runs were charged to left-handed reliever Aaron Loup, who said he pitched “like a little bitch” following the poor outing.
According to KRON 4 News, the Oakland Police Department (OPD) is investigating the incident as a battery.
"The Oakland Police Department (OPD) is investigating a battery that occurred on March 30, 2023, following an event in the 7000 block of Joe Morgan Way," OPD Public Information Officer Kim Armstead said in an email. "At this time, no victim has contacted OPD, however, surveillance video of the incident has surfaced. As a result, OPD created an incident, made a report, and is actively investigating."
The Angels declined to comment on the video, though Sam Blum of The Athletic did say Rendon will be available for comment before Saturday's game. The Standard also contacted the A’s for comment.
Rendon's run-in with the fan is the most significant altercation between a fan and a player at the Coliseum since 2004, when Texas Rangers pitcher Frank Francisco was arrested for throwing a chair at a heckling fan.