WATCH: Anthony Rendon swings at fan during an altercation |
The start of the 2023 MLB season for the Los Angeles Angels was marred by an incident involving Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon and an Athletics fan.
During Thursday's season opener in Oakland, Rendon was involved in a confrontation with a fan in the stands, which was caught on video and posted on social media. In the video, Rendon can be seen grabbing the fan by the shirt through the guardrails and accusing him of calling him a derogatory name. "What'd you say? You called me a b----, huh. Yeah you did. Yeah you did. Yeah motherf----," Rendon told the fan. The fan denies using the language, and Rendon continues to challenge him, using profanity and taking a swipe at him that misses. The altercation ends with Rendon letting go of the shirt and walking away. It remains to be seen what consequences Rendon will face as a result of this incident, but it serves as a reminder that players must be mindful of their actions both on and off the field. Fans, too, have a responsibility to treat players with respect and avoid crossing the line into abusive behavior. The Angels on Friday declined to comment on the incident but did say that Rendon will be made available to the media prior to Saturday's game back in Oakland to address the matter. "We are aware of the video, and we are now looking into the matter," MLB said in a statement. Check out the altercation below: Wow! Uncool! pic.twitter.com/FNRFWL46A0
