ANAHEIM — It might have taken a few days longer than expected for Anthony Rendon to get back in the lineup, but it happened quickly as soon as he gave the green light.

The Angels activated Rendon before Friday’s game. The veteran third baseman did not face any live pitching in the minors or even a simulated game. Rendon had simply hit off the high-velocity machine in the past couple of days.

“He came in after the game yesterday and said he felt great and he wanted to play tonight,” Manager Phil Nevin said before Friday’s game.

Rendon was hit in the left wrist by a pitch on June 15 in Texas. He remained on the active roster for a few days before going on the injured list. He was eligible to return on Monday, but the Angels decided to give him more time.

Nevin put him back into the cleanup spot on Friday. Although Rendon has just one home run in 164 plate appearances, the Angels like him in the middle of the lineup because of the way he works at-bats and drives in runners. He is hitting .286 with runners in scoring position.

“Anthony back out there certainly lengthens us out, puts that quality at-bat in the middle that we’ve been getting out of (Brandon) Drury in that spot,” Nevin said. “But with Anthony and him together in there, for me really lengthens this thing out so I’m excited to have him back.”

The Angels were not able to get Rendon and Drury in the lineup together on Friday, though. Drury hurt his shoulder on a diving play early in Thursday’s game, and he woke up sore on Friday. Nevin said he expects him back in “a day or two.”

“I can’t have all my toys at once,” Nevin quipped.

Shortstop Andrew Velazquez was optioned to Triple-A to create a spot for Rendon.

MEDEROS UP

The Angels called up right-hander Victor Mederos from Double-A, the third time this season they have called up a player who was selected in the 2022 draft. They earlier called up shortstop Zach Neto, their first-round pick, and relief pitcher Ben Joyce, their third-round pick.

Mederos, 22, was the Angels’ sixth-round pick out of Oklahoma State. He had a 5.98 ERA in 12 starts at Double-A this season, with 71 strikeouts and 25 walks in 55⅔ innings.

Nevin said the Angels called him up because they needed multi-inning coverage for the bullpen after getting 10 innings of relief in the previous two days. They optioned right-hander Andrew Wantz.

As for the trend of calling players up after such little time in the minors, Nevin said: “We feel these guys are extremely talented. And ready to be here. I think we’ve provided a good foundation for them and a good support system around them to prepare them for this moment.”

Mederos said he appreciated that the Angels offered opportunities that most other organizations wouldn’t.

“I feel like there’s a lot of organizations out there where you can be the best guy in the Double-A rotation, you’re probably not gonna get that chance,” he said.

NOTES

Neto (strained oblique) said earlier in the week he hoped to begin baseball activity on Friday, but Nevin said that was overly optimistic on Neto’s part. “He was kind of trying to make his own schedule,” Nevin said. “As aggressive as he wants to be with it, hopefully Sunday or Monday, we’ll get him out on the field. If he gets out there and starts doing stuff, this will ramp up very quickly. As long as we know he’s feeling good, it’s a matter of just getting him back in shape. We’ve got to make sure that’s out of there because if you re-injure these things, it takes a while to come back.” …

Left-handed reliever Matt Moore (strained oblique) continues to play catch. He is “getting close to getting back on the mound,” Nevin said. …

Joyce (ulnar neuritis) has a few more days of playing catch before he gets on the mound, Nevin said. …

The Angels designated infielder Jake Lamb for assignment to create a spot on the 40-man roster for Mederos. …

Infielder Kevin Padlo, who had been designated for assignment last weekend, cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A.

UP NEXT

Diamondbacks (RHP Ryne Nelson, 4-4, 4.97 ERA) at Angels (LHP Tyler Anderson, 4-2, 5.54 ERA), Saturday, 7:07 p.m., Bally Sports West, 830 AM

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