While still a freshman in 2009, Rendon was recognized as Baseball America’s Freshman of the Year and earned numerous other honors and accolades including:
All-America selection, Freshman All-American honors, District VII Player of the Year award from NCBWA, NCAA All-Region selection, Player of the Year honors from Conference USA, First Team selection to Conference USA All-Tournament and Silver Glove Series MVP honors from the cross-town rival University of Houston.
With 20 home runs and 72 RBI for the Owls in his first season, he was the team’s most consistent hitter. As a freshman, Rendon was also nominated for the Dick Howser Trophy and the Golden Spikes Award.
He set a new Rice freshman record for batting average, slugging percentage, and home runs while leading the conference offensively.
To go along with his already eye-popping offensive figures, he drew 31 walks for an on-base percentage of .496.
On top of the nine stolen bases in eleven attempts (two short of the team’s lead), he also had a .945 fielding percentage at third base, making him one of the best third basemen in the league.
But in Rice’s final game of the Baton Rouge Super Regional, Rendon was forced to have surgery on an ankle ailment.
The Dick Howser Trophy and Baseball America’s College Player of the Year were awarded to him as a sophomore in 2010, making him the first sophomore in a decade to win the accolade.
All-American, First Team All-American, All-Southern Region, NCAA Austin Regional MVP, All-Conference USA, All-Conference USA Tournament, Conference USA Academic Honor Roll, and Rawlings Sports Goods National Player of the Year were just some of the honors he received.
He is only the second player in the history of Conference USA to win Player of the Year honors two years in a row.
Meet Rene Rendon and Bridget Rendon
Rene Rendon and Bridget Rendon are the parents of Anthony Rendon. Aside Anthony, Rene Rendon and Bridget Rendon have another elder son called David Rendon. Rene Rendon is of Mexican descent unlike his wife.