d'Arnaud lands on IL as Angels' catching depth dwindles
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TORONTO -- The Angels’ catching depth took another hit on Friday, as veteran Travis d'Arnaud was placed on the 10-day injured list with right foot plantar fasciitis.
Fellow backstop Omar Martinez had his contract selected from Triple-A Salt Lake to take his place on the roster.
It’s a blow for the Angels, considering starting catcher Logan O’Hoppe is also on the 10-day IL with a small left wrist fracture he suffered on April 25. O’Hoppe progressed to hitting on the field and catching off a machine on Friday but still needs to hit at high velocity and catch bullpens before he returns.
Sebastián Rivero, 27, is now the primary backstop and started on Friday against the Blue Jays, giving him his 30th career start behind the plate in parts of four seasons with the Royals and Angels.
“It’s definitely not ideal to have both of your catchers that you started the season with on the IL,” manager Kurt Suzuki said. “But at the same time, it is what it is. You got to figure out a way. Luckily, we’ve got two guys that can really catch and it's our job as coaches to help guide them and help them be the best they can be.”
O’Hoppe, 26, made the trip to Toronto but d’Arnaud, 37, remained back in Southern California after he was diagnosed with his injury. He suffered it on Wednesday while attempting to avoid a tag at first base.
d’Arnaud hit his first homer of the year -- a three-run shot -- in his last at-bat before the injury and has slashed .200/.300/.314 with a double and three RBIs in 14 games. Suzuki said he’s not sure if it is a full tear for d’Arnaud or how long he will be out.
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“It definitely wasn't good when it happened,” Suzuki said. “I know he’s still a little bit sore. It’s unfortunate because he was swinging the bat and playing really well. So, pretty bummed for him, but he seemed like he was in good spirits when I texted him back and forth. So time will tell and we’ll see how he recovers.”
O’Hoppe, meanwhile, is getting close to a return but the Angels are still deciding whether he’ll need a rehab assignment. He said his wrist only bothers him on certain movements while catching but the pain tolerance has been manageable swinging the bat.
“It’s mostly on the pitch up and left on my glove side,” O’Hoppe said. “Honestly, that’s really it. Like swinging feels good. It feels the same for every swing. There’s not a certain pitch where I feel it more. Still some discomfort there when I swing but it’s become a lot more manageable. So even if it’s not 100 percent, but if it’s just enough to play, then I’m going to go play.”
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For Martinez, it marked the first time in his career that he was promoted to the Majors. The 24-year-old was previously in the Yankees' system before signing a Minor League deal with the Angels in the offseason. The left-handed hitter batted .212/.307/.424 with four homers and seven RBIs in 20 games with Triple-A Salt Lake.
“I’m excited,” Martinez said. “It’s my first time in the big leagues. I was in the Minor Leagues for nine years so the first thing I did was call my family. I called my mom and I’m just so happy. She told me to enjoy the day.”