Injuries & Moves: Stefanic recalled; Paris optioned
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June 8: Michael Stefanic recalled; Kyren Paris optioned to Triple-A
Stefanic began the season on the 10-day IL after suffering a left quad strain in Spring Training. He was moved to the 60-day IL on April 30 after dealing with setbacks in his recovery. Stefanic began playing in rehab games with the ACL Angels (Rookie Ball) on May 13, and started playing games in Triple-A on May 21. On May 29, Stefanic was reinstated off the 60-day IL and was eligible to be recalled by the Angels, but was instead optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake.
Stefanic hit .352/.446/.444 in 15 games at Triple-A. This followed a strong 25-game stint Stefanic had in the Majors last year, when he hit .290/.380/.355. Had Stefanic been healthy at the beginning of the year, he would've been an option for the Opening Day roster.
"It was long. It was a little bit frustrating, to be completely honest," Stefanic said about dealing with injuries and getting back to the Majors. "It's all behind me now and I'm just focused on showing up every day and playing my best."
Paris struggled in 21 games with the Angels, posting a .440 OPS and recording six hits in 51 at-bats. The 22-year-old figures to be in the mix as an injury replacement in the future, although the imminent return of Brandon Drury complicates his path.
June 8: 3B Anthony Rendon progresses to baseball activities
Rendon started baseball activities this week and said he's ahead of schedule with his left hamstring strain sustained on April 20. He said on Wednesday that he's been able to throw and swing the bat in the cages without any issues. He'll progress to jogging on Saturday, which will give him a better sense of a timeline. But he's now considered weeks and not months away from returning.
"I think I'm ahead of schedule," Rendon said. "I'm trying to push it each and every day. Let my body tell me that it's painful, it hurts or it's not ready. So we'll get back as soon as possible."
Rendon progressed further on June 7 when he took grounders in the infield before the game. The ground balls were hit right at him to avoid any lateral movement.
Angels manager Ron Washington made it clear that Rendon isn't close to returning but that the veteran third baseman was "feeling good" after his baseball activities on June 7. Rendon made another step on June 8 when he received grounders to his left and right to ramp up his lateral movement. He also did some exercises in the outfield to start moving around more.
June 7: Brandon Drury could begin rehab assignment soon
Manager Ron Washington said on June 7 that the Angels pushed Drury (left hamstring strain) "a little further than he has been" and that he will begin a rehab assignment shortly. Drury has continued doing baseball activities during the week of June 3 at Angel Stadium, which included taking grounders and taking batting practice on the field.
"He certainly looks like he's ready to go," Washington said. "Once we go on this next road trip [after this weekend series], he'll be out of here."
No specific date was given, but Washington's comments imply that Drury could be headed out on a rehab assignment early next week after the Angels finish this current homestand against the Astros.
10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST
INF Miguel Sanó (left knee inflammation)
Expected return: Possibly June
Sanó had been dealing with soreness in his surgically repaired left knee and was placed on the injured list on May 1, retroactive to April 28. He left games early on April 24 and April 26 with left knee soreness and underwent an MRI exam on April 27 that revealed inflammation, necessitating a trip to the IL.
After starting a rehab assignment in the Arizona Complex League, Sanó accidentally burned his left knee on May 25 because of a mishap with a heating pad. He was pulled from his rehab assignment on May 29 because the burn was severe enough that he needed further treatment. He resumed baseball activities on May 31 and played in his first game since the heating pad issue on June 8, recording one hit in three at-bats. (Last updated: June 8)
INF Brandon Drury (left hamstring strain)
Expected return: June 11
Drury exited with a left hamstring strain against the Pirates on May 8 and was placed on the injured list on May 9. He progressed to hitting in the batting cages on May 20. He started running and participating in full baseball activities on May 28. Drury progressed to taking ground balls at second base and hitting on the field before the game on June 3.
Drury has responded well to the recent baseball activity and should be heading on a rehab assignment during the week of June 10, according to Washington. (Last updated: June 7)
INF Ehire Adrianza (back spasms)
Expected return: June
Adrianza was held out of the lineup with back spasms on May 9 and underwent an MRI exam on May 10. It didn't reveal any structural damage, but his back spasms were enough to land him on the injured list. The Angels are hopeful it'll be a short stint for Adrianza. He had an injection in his back on May 16 and remains in Anaheim to rehab. He still hasn't been able to perform any baseball activities, as of May 28. (Last updated: May 28)
OF Mike Trout (torn meniscus in left knee)
Expected return: Possibly midseason
Trout suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee against the Phillies on April 29 but was frustrated because he said he wasn't even sure when he initially injured his knee. An MRI exam on April 30 revealed the tear. He underwent surgery on May 3 and is expected to return this season. The general timeline based on players who have had the same operation is roughly four to six weeks. Trout spoke with the media on May 25 and said he's almost ready to progress to using a treadmill. (Last updated: May 25) More >>
60-DAY INJURED LIST
3B Anthony Rendon (left hamstring strain)
Expected return: Possibly midseason
Rendon sustained a left hamstring strain while beating out an infield single on April 20 and was placed on the injured list on April 21. Rendon met with reporters on April 26 and said he was diagnosed with a high-grade partial tear of his hamstring. He said there's no timetable for his return, but it's expected to be a lengthy absence. He was moved to the 60-day injured list on May 9.
Rendon increased baseball activities during the week of June 3. Rendon met with the media on June 5 and said he's been swinging in the cages and throwing. Rendon took grounders directly at him at third base to avoid lateral movement before the game on June 7. On June 8, Angels manager Ron Washington said that Rendon handled his baseball activities well the previous day. As a result, Rendon fielded more grounders to his left and right to increase his lateral movement and he also did exercises in the outfield to move around more. (Last updated: June 8)
RHP Sam Bachman (right shoulder inflammation)
Expected return: June
Bachman is returning from shoulder surgery and is in Arizona working on his rehab. Mid-back spasms caused his throwing progression to be put on hold, but he resumed playing catch on April 29. Bachman will continue to build up as a starting pitcher. He removed himself from his rehab outing in Arizona on May 30 because of neck stiffness but felt better on May 31. He started a game for the Rookie-level ACL Angels on June 3 and threw three innings (one run allowed) for them on June 8. (Last updated: June 8)
RHP Chase Silseth (right elbow inflammation)
Expected return: June
Silseth felt something in his elbow while throwing breaking pitches during his outing against the Red Sox on April 7 and underwent an MRI exam the next day. On April 10, he said the results showed inflammation and no structural damage. He also had a second opinion on his elbow, but the doctors agreed it was just inflammation. Silseth progressed to playing catch for the first time on April 26.
Silseth left for Arizona on May 15 to throw a live bullpen session. He threw a 25-pitch bullpen on May 17 and another on May 20. He faced hitters in a live batting practice session on May 27. Then he began a rehab assignment in the Arizona Complex League on May 31, throwing three innings. Silseth threw four innings (56 pitches) for the ACL Angels on June 6 and will throw a side session on June 8. (Last updated: June 7)
RHP José Cisnero (right shoulder inflammation)
Expected return: Late June at the earliest
Cisnero struggled in his last outing on April 27, allowing a three-run homer to the Twins' Carlos Santana while recording just two outs in relief. After the game, he complained of shoulder discomfort and was placed on the injured list on April 28. Cisnero started his throwing progression and played catch on May 9. He progressed to throwing from 120 feet on May 17 and threw off a mound on May 19. But he felt tightness in his lower back after throwing and was moved to the 60-day injured list on May 29. (Last updated: May 29)
LHP José Quijada (torn ulnar collateral ligament)
Expected return: Possibly July
Quijada suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament and underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery on May 17, 2023. He missed the rest of the 2023 season. Having remained in Arizona to work on his rehab, Quijada threw a bullpen session on May 17 and another on May 21. He will likely return by midseason, depending on how he responds to rehab.
He took the week off of throwing from May 27-June 2 as part of his rehab plan, but resumed throwing on June 3. Quijada was expected to throw a 25-pitch bullpen session on June 7. (Last updated: June 7)
RHP Kelvin Caceres (right lat strain)
Expected return: 2025
Caceres suffered a lat strain during Spring Training that required season-ending surgery in March. He made his Major League debut in 2023, allowing one run in 1 1/3 innings. He also had a 4.12 ERA with 85 strikeouts in 54 2/3 innings across three Minor League levels. He was officially shifted to the 60-day injured list on May 9. (Last updated: May 10)
RHP Robert Stephenson (torn ulnar collateral ligament)
Expected return: 2025
The Angels announced on April 18 that Stephenson will undergo season-ending elbow surgery. He said on April 23 that he would undergo Tommy John surgery on April 30 and will have a brace inserted in his elbow. Stephenson said he believes it'll be a 12-month recovery but could take as long as 18 months. He was transferred to the 60-day injured list on April 21 and underwent surgery on May 1.
Stephenson was removed from his first rehab appearance on April 13 after facing just one batter and feeling something in his right elbow. Pitching for Triple-A Salt Lake, the right-hander opened up the bottom of the seventh inning on the mound but threw only four pitches, all balls, before signaling to the dugout. After speaking briefly to the trainer and a coach, Stephenson departed. (Last updated: May 3)