Five long years later, Rendon happy to return to Nats Park

What kind of memories flooded Anthony Rendon’s mind when he walked into Nationals Park today for the first time in five years?

“I mean, there’s a big sign, right when you get off the bus,” he said with a laugh. “You can’t miss it.”

That sign, located just outside the home clubhouse, is the 2019 World Series champions logo. It probably would not exist if not for Rendon, whose litany of clutch hits that October made him perhaps the Nats’ most valuable player throughout their postseason run.

That Rendon hadn’t been back to see that sign, or anything in this ballpark, until today involved quite the odd combination of events over the last five years.

He of course signed a seven-year, $245 million deal with the Angels a little more than a month after the World Series parade. And when COVID forced Major League Baseball to keep all interleague games regional in 2020 and 2021, that prevented the Nationals and Angels from playing each other. The Nats did go to Anaheim in 2022 and again in 2023 (when MLB debuted its new schedule including one series against every team from the opposing league).

So that makes this weekend the Angels’ first trip to D.C. not only since Rendon joined them, but their first trip here since 2017, when the prospect of a Bryce Harper-Mike Trout showdown was the headliner.

It may have taken a while, and every other departed member of the World Series roster had long since returned, but that didn’t diminish the significance of this series for Rendon.

“I think it was just one of those deals where it was bad timing,” he said. “Or good timing, however you want to look at it. I finally made it back, though.”

The 34-year-old was all smiles today as he reconnected with former players, coaches, staff members, security guards, even the same reporters he typically grumbled about having to talk to when he played here. He’s got reason to be in a good mood right now, though, because he’s actually healthy and able to contribute on the field.

Rendon’s tenure in Anaheim has been an unmitigated disaster because he has spent more time on the injured list than in the lineup. He has played in only 235 games over the last five seasons, never more than 58 in any individual campaign, due to a never-ending list of physical ailments. And when he has been able to play, he’s been a shell of his former self, with a .732 OPS that’s 127 points lower than his mark from 2013-19 with the Nationals.

Rendon just returned from his latest IL stint (lower back inflammation) earlier this week and is still trying to get himself back into a groove after missing more time.

“I feel good one at-bat, feel different the next at-bat,” he said. “I’m just trying to get that rhythm after taking a week and a half off.”

It’s hard for anyone in D.C. to view Rendon in an unfavorable light, because aside from a few notable injuries during his time here, he was a model of consistency at the plate and in the field. The Nats have spent the last five years trying in vain to find a suitable replacement for him at third base, having used 19 different players at the hot corner, with Ildemaro Vargas tonight playing his 114th game to match Carter Kieboom atop a conspicuous list.

The crazier stat, though, is that the Angels have used 28 different players at third base since signing Rendon, the ultimate evidence of his consistent unavailability to play.

“As we all know, he’s very laid back,” Davey Martinez said. “He played every day, though. I knew what I was going to get from him every single day. He didn’t say much. He just went out there and played the game. I loved that about him. He was very special.”

Rendon was greeted warmly by the D.C. crowd when his name was introduced in tonight’s Angels lineup, and the Nationals played a video tribute for him prior to first pitch. He emerged from the dugout (along with former Nats batting practice pitcher Ali Modami) and doffed his cap to the crowd.

Rendon didn’t know what exactly to expect when asked in advance what he thought the fan reaction would be. But clearly he hoped it would be a positive one.

“Obviously, it would be legit. It would be great,” he said. “Obviously, that’s in the past now. But it would be good.”