“It’s stiff. I’ve never had an elbow problem,” said Angels reliever Austin Warren, who said he needed season-ending Tommy John surgery. But that’s it and I’ll be back in a year….I won’t say I was surprised.After the first MRI, I found myself in tears.I wanted a second opinion. and had a doctor help me make the decision, which made it a lot easier.” (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
ANAHEIM — The bad news for the Angels’ bullpen came long before the first pitch against the Texas Rangers on Friday.
Two days after the club announced that left-handed José Quixada will undergo Tommy John surgery, right-handed Austin Warren learned he would suffer the same fate. With both surgeries scheduled for the 17th, I will be lost for a year.
On a less serious note, left-hander Aaron Loup was placed on the disabled list on Friday with a strained right hamstring. The Angels brought back right-hander Andrew Wants to replace him in the bullpen.
Despite Loup’s early season struggles, the Angels entered Friday’s game as one of five teams in baseball with an ERA of less than 3.00. They are one of three teams in the American League West that have performed very well, along with the Seattle Mariners and the Houston Astros.
“It’s the more cautious side, but I don’t think it’s a big deal,” Loup said. “But we’re not in a situation where it takes three or four days to get right where the bullpen is now. So we can have a full pen going into these big division games with the Rangers and Astros. As such, it’s probably better to take an IL stint.”
Roop struggled to join the bullpen’s success with an 0–2 record and a 7.00 ERA in 11 appearances (9 innings). In his most recent outing, Thursday in St. Louis, Roop gave up his two runs on his two hits and his one walk in his two innings of third minutes.
“Injuries are never a good thing, but they might give him a chance to step back and think about whether[his struggle]is mechanical or physical,” said manager Phil Nevin. “But he’ll be the first to admit he’s not pitching as good as he can.
“To be honest, I know the numbers and I know he’s had his ups and downs, but I remember this guy being really, really good and it wasn’t that long ago.”
The Angels hoped that Roop and Yellowfin could have formed a formidable left-handed duo out of “Pen”. Kihada played the part early in the season with four saves and eight straight clean sheets. But he gave up five against the Kansas City Royals on April 22 and two against the Oakland Athletics last week.
The news only got worse as an IL stint led to the discovery that he needed Tommy John surgery.
“It was a big deal for me. I talked to my wife and she asked how I could take it so cool. I said that’s what happens in baseball.” Yellowfin said through an interpreter. “We need to keep our heads high and prepare for next season.”
Warren spoke with Quijada on Friday, saying the two pitchers vowed to support each other during recovery and push each other through rehab.
Warren had no discomfort on the mound in seven outings between Triple-A Salt Lake and the Angels, but suffered persistent elbow pain after a game against the Royals on April 23. led to his surgical diagnosis.
“It’s stiff. I never had an elbow problem,” Warren said. “I prayed every day that this would never happen. But it is and I will be back in a year. I found out it was out.I asked for a second opinion and had a doctor help me with my decision.It made it a lot easier.”
make progress
First baseman Jared Walsh continues to get closer to live batting practice, but Nevin doesn’t yet know when that moment will happen.
Walsh has been sidelined all season while undergoing treatment for neurological issues that have caused headaches and insomnia. Although he’s started on the field, he’s yet to see him pitch in action.
“He was in a really good mood today. We had a good conversation,” said Nevin. “There are some hurdles he has to overcome early next week and I think once we get to that point we can start talking a little bit about the timetable.”
friendly competition
Nevin said he exchanged texts with Rangers manager Bruce Bochy on Thursday, but starting Friday, the good friends turned into tough competition.
Bochy was Nevin’s manager in San Diego, where the current Angels skipper revived his career with 24 homers in 1999, 31 in 2000, and 41 in 2001, making his only All-Star Game appearance. . Nevin hit 156 homers in seven seasons with the Padres and had a .862 OPS.
Nevin spent one season coaching under Bochy in 2017 in San Francisco.
“I had a good year under him and I feel I owe him a lot,” Nevin said Friday. Of course we both do the same job now, but it will always be someone I admire 100 percent.”
next
Rangers (RHP Nathan Eovaldi, 3-2, 3.93) vs. Angels (LHP Reid Detmers, 0-2, 4.85), Saturday, 6:07 pm, Bally Sports West, 830 AM