Angels' Anthony Rendon expects MLB stars to find groove fast

Los Angeles Angels' new $245 million third baseman mostly spent first few months of his seven-year contract changing his daughters' diapers and occasionally throwing a tennis ball at a wall.

Anthony Rendon is more than rey to get to work earning his riches, and World Series winner doesn't think it will take long for baseball's best players to get back into championship form.

“As we get older, we kw what we need to do to prepare ourselves for a game as men, as professionals,” Rendon said Thursday. “I think re's a little bit of a light switch deal, where we kw that we’ve got to go right w. We can kind of turn it on and say we need to get down to business, and I need to bear down because real deal is about to happen. If season started today, I think a lot of guys, including myself, would be rey.”

Rendon is getting to kw his teammates again after his first year with Angels was interrupted by coronavirus pandemic before he even got a chance to play in Anaheim.

most coveted hitter on free nt market earned his mammoth deal by hitting .319 with 34 homers and a majors-leing 126 RBIs last season before leing Washington Nationals to ir first World Series title.

Rendon symbolically closed out first chapter of his pro career Thursday morning by getting his World Series ring from Nationals, although straight-faced third baseman said his next step was to “find closest pawn shop.”

He was only joking about his frustration over lengthy coordination process of getting ring shipped, but he's firmly focused on his future in Orange County.

Manr Joe Mdon also left National League to join Angels this season, and he has a long-standing familiarity with Rendon's bat and mentality. He agrees with third baseman's belief that good ballplayers will find motivation on ir own terms in this short season, wher it's about dealing with lack of a full spring training or absence of fans.

“I've always talked about (how) September provides its own energy," said manr of 2016 World Series champion Chicago Cubs. “So we're going to find out if September provides its own energy even without people in stands.”

Rendon has thought about challenges of playing without fans, but preternaturally calm playoff performer doesn't think artificial crowd ise is answer. Angel Stium experimented with piping in fans' cheers during an intrasqu game Wednesday, but Rendon called it “stupid.”

“It's like you have two of your senses that aren't coinciding with one ar,” Rendon ded. “It's like you're looking at a pizza, but you're smelling a hamburger. You hear ise, but you kw body is in stands. You don't see anybody. It's dumb. I'd rar listen to music.”

Rendon is much more supportive of baseball's health and safety measures, although he mits he wasn't going to be interested in doing much partying anyway with two daughters under 3 waiting at home.

Angels have collectively vowed to stay out of restaurants and bars for duration of short season, and Rendon thinks it's smart.

“We have a lot of high-risk people that are on staff,” Rendon said. “We have a lot of players that have family members at home that are higher risk, so we have to wear our masks to protect or people. At this time, we have to be selfless toward everyone around us, because we don't kw what everyone's situation is. This is a good opportunity for us as a world to realize that selfishness doesn't go a long way, so we have to look out for one ar.”

TES: Left-hander Patrick Sandoval and two-way player Jared Walsh both reported to Angels' summer camp and went through workouts Thursday. y were among several players who hn't been in camp without any explanation from Angels. ... Halos also ded right-hander rian De Horta to ir player pool. ... Thursday's intrasqu game featured mostly mir leaguers. big-league starters are expected to play Friday.

Im credits: AP