MINNEAPOLIS — Los Angeles Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon has been placed on the 10-day injured list with a strained left oblique muscle, the third time in yet another interrupted season that the 34-year-old has been sidelined by injury.
The Angels also put closer Ben Joyce on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation and called up infielder Eric Wagaman and right-handed reliever Guillermo Zuñiga from Triple-A Salt Lake to fill in.
Rendon’s latest injury began with his back, keeping him out of the lineup Sunday and Monday before the team realized he’d need more time with the oblique trouble. The move was made retroactive to Sunday, leaving him a maximum of 11 games left to play if he’s ready to return when eligible.
“Just have to wait and see what happens,” manager Ron Washington said. “I’m not going to sit here and say it’s the end of the year.”
Rendon missed 68 games earlier this season with a strained left hamstring. He later sat out for eight games with lower back inflammation. After departing the 2019 World Series champion Washington Nationals as a free agent, Rendon signed a seven-year, $245 million contract with the Angels.
After debuting with the Angels during the pandemic-abbreviated 2020 season, Rendon has not played more than 58 games in any season. He had a 1.010 OPS with 34 home runs and a major-league-leading 126 RBIs in 2019, but his OPS over five years with the Angels is just .717. Rendon is batting .218 with no home runs in 206 at-bats this season.
Joyce’s injury is not considered serious, and he’s expected to return to action yet this year. The move was made retroactive to Saturday. Joyce has a 2.08 ERA in 31 appearances, with four saves in four chances.
Wagaman, 27, who’s from Southern California and played at Orange Coast College about 10 miles from Angels Stadium, was a Rule 5 draft pick last winter from the New York Yankees organization.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — A home belonging to Arizona Diamondbacks star Ketel Marte was burglarized during the Major League Baseball All-Star break, according to police.
Scottsdale, Arizona, police confirmed that the department is investigating a “high-dollar residential burglary” that is believed to have happened on Tuesday night, which is when Marte was playing for the National League in its All-Star game win in Atlanta.
Numerous personal items and jewelry were stolen. No one was at home when the burglary occurred.
Police said the home is “reportedly” owned by Marte. Maricopa County Assessor’s Office records show Marte owns a home on the block near the investigation.
Police say the investigation is ongoing.
Marte hit a two-run double in the first inning of the NL’s win, which was secured after a home run contest at the end of the game after the score was tied after nine innings.
The burglary is the latest in a series of thefts from the homes of high-profile athletes across the country this year. Players have been targeted because of the high-end products believed to be in their homes and sometimes the thefts occur when they are away with their teams for road games.
The FBI has warned sports leagues about crime organizations targeting professional athletes. The NFL and NBA have issued security alerts to athletes.
A Seattle man was charged last month in connection with a string of burglaries at the homes of prominent active and retired professional athletes in the area.
Chicago Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg said Wednesday he is “continuing to fight” cancer and is prioritizing time with those closest to him.
He posted a letter addressed to his fans and extended baseball family on Instagram.
“I wanted to share an update regarding my health,” wrote Sandberg, 65. “It’s been a challenging few months as I have been going through treatment on a regular basis.
“While I am continuing to fight, I’m looking forward to making the most of every day with my loving family and friends.
“I haven’t been to Wrigley Field as much as I hoped in the first half but I’m watching every game and am excited for the second half.”
He threw out the first pitch, surrounded by fellow Cubs greats, before the home opener on April 4.
In January 2024, Sandberg announced he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer, then last August announced he was cancer-free. In December, he said the cancer had recurred and spread. He vowed to “continue to be positive, strong, and fight to beat this.”
Sandberg spent 15 of his 16 major league seasons with the Cubs, along with 13 games at the start of his career for the Philadelphia Phillies (1981).
Sandberg was the 1984 National League MVP, when he batted a career-high .314 with a major-league-leading 19 triples and 114 runs scored as well as 19 home runs, 84 RBIs and 32 stolen bases.
The second baseman also earned the second of his nine career Gold Glove awards that year. He was a 10-time All-Star selection and a seven-time Silver Slugger honoree, batting .285 with 282 home runs and 1,061 RBIs in his 2,164-game career.
Sandberg, who was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005, also spent parts of three seasons (2013-15) as the Phillies’ manager.
Despite an excellent first half to the season, Texas Rangers starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi wasn’t selected as an All-Star this year, but the team made sure that he’ll be paid like one.
Despite the snub, Eovaldi was given the $100,000 All-Star bonus in his contract by the Rangers after he posted a 1.58 ERA with 94 strikeouts over 91 innings. Teammate Jacob deGrom, who was selected as an All-Star, also received a $100,000 bonus.
Eovaldi, in his 15th major league season, would lead the majors in ERA, but after missing a month due to a triceps injury, he fell six innings short of the necessary 97 innings to qualify among leaders for individual statistical categories.
Eovaldi, a two-time All-Star, won his third straight game on Sunday to improve to 7-3, giving up five hits and a run with eight strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings against the Houston Astros.
The right-hander ranks second only to Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal among MLB starting pitchers in WHIP (0.85) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (6.71). Opposing batters are hitting a paltry .194 with a .237 on-base percentage, .286 slugging percentage and .523 OPS against Eovaldi.
Eovaldi is scheduled to make his first start of the second half at home on Sunday against Skubal and the Tigers at Globe Life Field.