Injuries & Moves: Schanuel still out with thumb soreness
LATEST NEWS
May 31: 1B Nolan Schanuel out for second straight game with left thumb soreness
Schanuel was originally in the lineup against the Mariners on Friday but was scratched roughly an hour before the game with left thumb soreness, and was also held out of action on Saturday. Willie Calhoun played first base in both games as his replacement.
Schanuel said he injured his thumb while hitting in the batting cages in Houston last week. He's been in a slump recently, going 2-for-23 over his last six games. He said he tried to play through the injury but it wouldn't get better and it was affecting his swing, but an MRI revealed there was no structural damage. He's likely to be held out until at least Monday at home against the Padres.
May 29: Reinstated INF Michael Stefanic from IL and optioned him to Triple-A Salt Lake; moved RHP José Cisnero to 60-day IL
The Angels activated Stefanic from the 60-day injured list on Wednesday but optioned him to Triple-A Salt Lake. Manager Ron Washington said Stefanic will need to earn his callup to the Majors, as he had been out since Spring Training and will need more time in the Minors. Stefanic, 28, hit .474 in six rehab games with Salt Lake and slashed .290/.380/.355 with six RBIs in 25 games with the Angels.
To make room for Stefanic on the 40-man roster, Cisnero was moved to the 60-day IL. Cisnero has been out since April 27 with right shoulder inflammation but recently experienced some lower back tightness and was shut down from his throwing program.
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 needs further treatment. He resumed baseball activities on May 31 but still isn't ready to play in games. (Last updated: May 31)
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. He said he's targeting a return on June 11 against the D-backs in Arizona. (Last updated: May 29)
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
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)
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.
He's since progressed to long toss and said on May 10 that he's nearing his first bullpen session. Silseth left for Arizona on May 15 to throw a live bullpen session and eventually start a rehab assignment. He threw a 25-pitch bullpen on May 17 and another on May 20. He faced hitters in a live bullpen session on May 27. He began a rehab assignment in the Arizona Complex League on May 31. (Last updated: May 31)
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 and progressed to throwing a bullpen session on May 10. He threw a live bullpen session of 25 pitches on May 17 and was scheduled to throw another on May 21, followed by two innings in a rehab outing in Arizona on May 30. He removed himself from his outing on May 30 with neck stiffness but felt better on May 31. His next start is to be determined. (Last updated: May 31)
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's taking the week off of throwing from May 27-June 2 as part of his rehab plan, but will resume throwing on June 3. (Last updated: May 28)
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 joined the Angels in his native Houston to continue his rehab with the club on May 20. He said he's been cleared to walk on a treadmill but not for any baseball activity.
"It feels good, it's just been coming along slowly," Rendon said. "We've been doing rehab but that's the extent of it, unfortunately. Just trying to keep the hamstring elongated." (Last updated: May 20)
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)