Injuries & Moves: Suarez recalled; Adell out for season

Injuries & Moves: Suarez recalled; Adell out for season

September 9th, 2024

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Sept. 9: LHP has contract selected from Triple-A Salt Lake; RHP optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake; OF placed on 60-day IL
The Angels needed some length in their bullpen, so they called up Suarez from Triple-A Salt Lake. It's been a tough year for Suarez, who has an 8.66 ERA in 35 1/3 innings in the Majors and a 6.54 ERA in 52 1/3 frames at Triple-A Salt Lake. But he'll be available in long relief. Crouse was optioned one day after he was called up and threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings on Sunday.

Adell, who suffered a left oblique strain on a swing on Friday, was placed on the 10-day injured list on Saturday but transferred to the 60-day IL on Monday, which ends his season. Angels manager Ron Washington said Adell made “tremendous progress” in his first year as an everyday player. Adell played in 130 games and had the fifth-most plate appearances on the club (451) when he was sent to the IL. He batted only .207, but flashed some power (20 home runs) and speed (15 stolen bases). He hit below .200 through July, but he was resurgent in August, slashing .277/.327/.489 over 101 plate appearances in 27 games that month.

Sept. 8: RHP Victor Mederos optioned to Triple-A after blown save; RHP Hans Crouse recalled
The morning after he blew a two-run lead and earned the loss against the Rangers, Mederos found himself headed back to the Minor Leagues, albeit at a higher level than he was the last time he was there. The Angels optioned Mederos to Triple-A Salt Lake.

Mederos posted an 11.81 ERA in 5 1/3 innings over four games in a three-week stint with the Halos. The bulk of his work this year has been with Double-A Rocket City, where he was exclusively a starter, pitching 20 games and going 4-8 with a 6.39 ERA. A sixth-round Draft pick out of Oklahoma State in 2022, Mederos has never pitched at the Triple-A level.

“He needs to get control of emotions,” manager Ron Washington said the day Mederos was sent down. “He’s got good stuff, but sometimes he gets out there and lets the game speed up on him, and we needed to get some help down in that bullpen.”

The help came in the person of Crouse, a second-round pick for the Rangers in 2017. Crouse was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake. He had a successful two-month run with the Angels from late-June to late-August, with a 3.00 ERA in 24 games. He struck out 33 in 24 innings for the Halos, but walked 15. He’s 3-0 with a 2.15 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 29 1/3 innings with the Bees this season.

Sept. 7: CF Kevin Pillar heads to 10-day injured list with left thumb strain
Pillar took over for Jo Adell in right field on Sept. 6 after Adell had to leave with an oblique injury, but Pillar also didn’t finish the game. He walked and lined out in his two plate appearances before being lifted for a pinch-hitter in the ninth inning.

The next day, Pillar landed on the IL with a left thumb sprain. Pillar had surgery in 2016 to repair a torn ligament in that same digit, but Angels manager Ron Washington said the new injury didn’t result in a new tear. “It wasn’t damaged. ... The operation held,” Washington said. “It’s just a muscle [sprain] up in there. Hopefully he can make it back before the season’s over.”

Sept. 7: OFs Bryce Teodosio, Jordyn Adams brought in from Triple-A Salt Lake
Suddenly faced with a need for more outfielders, the Angels selected the contract of Teodosio and recalled Adams, bringing both up from Triple-A Salt Lake.

Teodosio made his Major League debut against the Rangers at Globe Life Field. He started in center field and batted ninth. Adams did not start but was available off the bench.

Known more for his speed and defense than his bat, Teodosio had a breakout season at the plate for the Bees. He hit .276 with 19 doubles and five homers in 114 games. He also stole 40 bases and was caught stealing just four times.

Adams still has his rookie status after 17 games with the Angels in 2023. He slashed a paltry .128/.125/.128 then, and has spent all of this season with Salt Lake, posting a .261/.333/.386 slash line in 123 games.

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10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST

CF Kevin Pillar (left thumb sprain)
Expected return: Possibly September
Pillar was removed for a pinch-hitter late in the Angels’ loss to the Rangers on Sept. 6 and placed on the IL the next day. The Angels are hopeful he can return before the end of the season, manager Ron Washington said. But he still hadn't progressed to baseball activities, as of Sept. 9. (Last updated: Sept. 9)

RHP (right elbow inflammation)
Expected return: Possibly September
Fulmer felt something in his elbow in the fourth inning of his start against the Blue Jays on Aug. 25 but pitched through it without any issues. When it continued to bother him when he tried to throw a bullpen session, he was placed on the 15-day IL on Aug. 30. He has progressed to playing light catch, the Angels announced Sept. 4, and he is still aiming to return at some point before the end of the season. He's continuing to ramp up his throwing program and could return this season. (Last updated: Sept. 9)

LHP (left forearm strain)
Expected return: Possibly September
Moore threw 18 pitches before departing on a 2-2 count against Ernie Clement in the seventh inning on Aug. 25 against the Blue Jays. He had an MRI a day later before the start of the Angels’ series in Detroit on Aug. 27.

Moore said that while he hopes to return to game action in September, he isn’t going to take “risks” that could have negative long-term impacts. He still hasn't progressed to throwing, as of Sept. 9. (Last updated: Sept. 9)

60-DAY INJURED LIST

RF Jo Adell (left oblique strain)
Expected return: 2025
Adell had to leave the game early on Sept. 6 against the Rangers with a strained left oblique. He was placed on the 10-day injured list on Sept. 7, but was transferred to the 60-day IL on Sept. 9, ending his season. He said he expects to be fully healed by October and should have a normal offseason. (Last updated: Sept. 9)

RHP (right arm fatigue)
Expected return: 2025
Soriano was transferred to the 60-day IL on Sept. 7 to make room on the Angels’ 40-man roster for outfielders Bryce Teodosio and Jordyn Adams to replace Jo Adell and Kevin Pillar, who were both sent to the 10-day IL that day. Manager Ron Washington said Soriano hadn’t had any new setbacks and that the move was purely for roster purposes; however, it guarantees Soriano won’t be back until 2025. He initially went to the 15-day IL on Aug. 17 after allowing two runs over 3 1/3 innings on Aug. 16. (Last updated: Sept. 9)

RHP (right elbow inflammation)
Expected return: 2025
Wantz appeared in only one Major League game this season and was placed on the 15-day IL retroactive to July 1. He underwent a further examination and had season-ending elbow surgery, the club announced on July 13. It wasn't Tommy John surgery. Wantz was expected to be ready for Spring Training but suffered a setback and his status for 2025 is uncertain. (Last updated: Aug. 31)

RHP Chase Silseth (right elbow)
Expected return: 2025
Silseth had a setback in his recovery process and underwent season-ending surgery on Aug. 5. It wasn't Tommy John surgery and he's expected to be ready for Spring Training. Angels general manager Perry Minasian initially said on July 30 that Silseth was getting his elbow checked out after the right-hander was removed from his most recent start with Triple-A Salt Lake after 2 1/3 innings. Silseth was placed on the 15-day IL on April 8 with elbow inflammation and transferred to the 60-day IL on April 30. His last appearance in the Majors was April 7. He's expected to be ready for Spring Training. (Last updated: Aug. 31)

RHP José Marte (viral infection)
Expected return: 2025
Marte landed on the injured list on Aug. 10 with a viral infection. The Angels were hopeful it would be a short stint on the IL, but he was moved to the 60-day IL on Aug. 30, ending his season. He felt something in his shoulder when trying to build up his arm strength and shut it down for the season as a precaution. He was solid in relief with a 2.33 ERA in 19 1/3 innings. (Last updated: Aug. 31)

LHP (torn flexor tendon, torn ulnar collateral ligament)
Expected return: Possibly late 2025
Sandoval exited his June 21 start against the Dodgers with left forearm tightness and was placed on the injured list the next day with a left elbow strain. Sandoval felt it while pitching to former teammate Shohei Ohtani, signaling to the dugout after he threw an 89 mph fastball. He underwent an MRI exam on June 22 and told reporters on June 24 that he was diagnosed with a high-grade flexor tendon tear and a torn ulnar collateral ligament.

Sandoval was moved to the 60-day IL on June 25. He underwent successful surgery to repair his UCL on June 26. On June 29, he said that he had a brace inserted in his elbow as part of his Tommy John surgery. His timetable is roughly 12-14 months. General manager Perry Minasian said on Aug. 31 that Sandoval could return sometime in 2025. (Last updated: Aug. 31)

OF (torn meniscus in left knee)
Expected return: 2025
Trout was moved to the 60-day injured list on Aug. 27 to make room on the 40-man roster for reliever Ryan Miller, who was called up from Triple-A Salt Lake.

Trout had already been eliminated as a possibility to return in 2024. He suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee on April 29 and underwent surgery on May 3. He began his rehab assignment with Triple-A Salt Lake on July 23 but left his first game after two innings because of left knee soreness. Angels general manager Perry Minasian said on July 30 that Trout was being shut down from his rehab process and was still feeling pain. On Aug. 1, Minasian announced that Trout suffered a new tear in his left meniscus and that he is done for the season. Trout underwent successful surgery on Aug. 7. (Last updated: Aug. 27)

INF (right wrist inflammation)
Expected return: 2025
Rengifo was out from July 5-23 with right wrist inflammation and felt something on a swing again on July 31. He returned to the lineup on Aug. 2, but left the game after two at-bats because of discomfort. He was placed on the IL on Aug. 3 and underwent further testing that revealed he needed surgery. He underwent season-ending wrist surgery on Aug. 6 and is expected to be ready for Spring Training. He was moved to the 60-day IL on Aug. 17. (Last updated: Aug. 17)

RHP (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 (torn ulnar collateral ligament)
Expected return: 2025
The Angels announced on April 18 that Stephenson would undergo season-ending elbow surgery, and he had Tommy John surgery with a brace inserted in his elbow on May 1. 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.

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)

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