Rengifo exits after feeling pop in hand on swing

September 18th, 2019

NEW YORK -- Angels second baseman left Tuesday’s 8-0 loss to the Yankees in the seventh inning because of a left hand injury. He had X-rays and the results were negative, but the hand will be re-evaluated on Wednesday, according to manager Brad Ausmus.

Rengifo swung and missed at a pitch from Yankees left-hander Stephen Tarpley and fell to the ground in obvious pain. After being looked at by the trainer for a few minutes, Rengifo left the game and was replaced by Matt Thaiss, who struck out swinging.

“As soon as I started to swing, it kind of felt like [the hand] popped,” Rengifo said through interpreter Angel Miranda. “From there, things got worse. I had to take a step out [of the box].”

The second baseman is the latest injury for a club that has already lost its former MVP, Mike Trout, for the rest of the season. Shohei Ohtani, Justin Upton and Zack Cozart also won’t be returning in 2019, and Ausmus said that the injuries, in part, have made this a “trying” first season at the helm for the Halos.

Rengifo has played 108 games for the Angels this season and is hitting .238/.321/.364 with seven home runs and 33 RBIs.