Anthony Rendon

Out of high school, Rendon was drafted in the 27th round of the Major League Baseball Draft by the Atlanta Braves.

He turned down their signing bonus to play for Rice University and head coach Wayne Graham.

Anthony Michael Rendon (, ; born June 6, 1990) is an American baseball third baseman for the Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball (MLB).

As a freshman in 2009, Rendon was named Baseball America's Freshman of the Year, All-America, Freshman All-American, NCBWA's District VII Player of the Year, NCAA All-Regional Team, Conference USA Player of the Year, All-Conference USA (first team), Conference USA All-Tournament Team, and MVP of the Silver Glove Series with cross-town rival, University of Houston.

As a true freshman, he hit .388 with 20 home runs and 72 runs batted in, starting in all 61 of the Owls' games.

Rendon was also nominated for both the Dick Howser Trophy and the Golden Spikes Award in his first season at the college level.

He led the conference in numerous offensive categories, including batting average, slugging percentage and home runs, setting a new Rice freshman record.

He added 31 walks to his already gaudy offensive numbers, giving him a .496 on-base percentage.

In addition to his batting prowess, he stole nine bases in eleven attempts, two away from leading the team, and showed defensive ability at third base as well; ending the year with a .945 fielding percentage.

However, in Rice's last game, in the Baton Rouge Super Regional, Rendon suffered an ankle injury that required surgery.

Rendon played college baseball for the Rice University Owls, where he won the 2010 Dick Howser Trophy.

As a sophomore in 2010, he was the winner of the Dick Howser Trophy and was Baseball America's College Player of the Year, becoming the first underclassman in a decade to win the award.

Additionally, he was named the Rawlings Sporting Goods National Player of the Year, Conference USA Male Athlete of the Year, District VII Player of the Year, First Team All-American, All-south Region, Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Austin Regional, All-Conference USA, All-Conference USA Tournament, and Conference USA Academic Honor Roll.

He is also only the second player to be named Conference USA Player of the Year twice.

He finished the season hitting .394 with 26 home runs and 85 runs batted in, again starting in every one of the Owls' 63 games.

Rendon's 26 home runs were the second-highest single season total in school history; the only other Owl to hit more home runs in a year was Lance Berkman.

In his sophomore campaign, Rendon hit more home runs (26) than he struck out (22), and his walks (65) nearly tripled his strikeout total.

Again, Rendon flashed the leather, raising his fielding percentage to .978, making only four errors at third base.

After his Rice season ended, Rendon was invited to represent his country playing on the international circuit for Team USA.

He suffered another right ankle injury in the first game against South Korea.

Houston mayor Annise Parker declared June 29, 2010, to be "Anthony Rendon Day" in Houston.

Rendon was a member of Wiess College while at Rice.

Rendon was selected sixth overall in the 2011 MLB draft by the Nationals.

The Washington Nationals selected Rendon in the first round, with the sixth overall selection, of the 2011 Major League Baseball draft.

Following the 2012 season, many scouts rated Rendon as the best prospect in the Nationals organization and one of the top prospects in MLB.

Rendon made his MLB debut in 2013.

He is an All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger Award winner.

Rendon is the second son of Rene and Bridget Rendon.

His parents say Rendon started playing baseball at a very early age, hitting pine cones with sticks as early as the age of three.

Rendon grew up on the southwest side of Houston and excelled in both academics and sports.

For the first two and a half years of high school, Rendon attended George Bush High School, before transferring to Lamar High School.

As a senior, he was a first-team 5A all-state shortstop and an All-Greater Houston selection by the Houston Chronicle after he hit .570 with eight home runs, 17 doubles, 56 runs batted in, 56 runs, and 13 stolen bases.

Rendon started the 2013 season with the Double-A Harrisburg Senators.

He was called up by the Washington Nationals on April 20 when Ryan Zimmerman was placed on the disabled list.

Rendon was optioned back to the Harrisburg Senators when Zimmerman came off the disabled list on May 3.

Rendon was recalled by the Nationals on June 4, 2013, and replaced second baseman Danny Espinosa.

Days later, on June 15, Rendon clubbed his first major league home run off Vinnie Pestano of the Cleveland Indians.

The ninth-inning solo shot put the Nationals on top and they won 7–6.

Rendon finished the season with the Nationals, putting up a .265/.329/.396 triple slash with seven home runs across 98 games with the major league club.

He has previously played for the Washington Nationals and was a member of the Nationals' 2019 World Series championship team.