ANAHEIM -- Angels right-handers Alek Manoah, Ben Joyce and Kirby Yates are all set to make rehab appearances with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga on Saturday, and they all had positive things to say about the progress they’ve been making in their injury recoveries.
The three right-handers were at Angel Stadium prior to Friday’s series opener against the Mets to get work in and be around their teammates heading into the trio's respective rehab appearances roughly 40 miles away on Saturday. They all will need multiple rehab appearances before returning, but it’s still a good step for the Angels, who entered Friday having lost 10 of 11 and could desperately use the pitching help.
It’s the start of a rehab stint for Manoah, who opened the year on the injured list with a right middle finger contusion after his fingernail fell off during Spring Training. But he said his fingernail grew back, and he's up to 90 pitches after facing hitters at the club’s Arizona complex several times. Manoah's eventual return could give the rotation a boost, as lefty Yusei Kikuchi could miss time after having an MRI exam taken on his left shoulder, pending the results.
"I'm great,” Manoah said. “I’ve just been healing the finger and getting ready to come help this team. Just trying to build everything up and get everything in place and do everything I can to keep in touch with the guys and do everything I can to come help this team.”
Manoah explained his fingernail first started to bother him before Spring Training. His wife Marielena suggested heating a small needle to relieve the pressure, but with the report date just a few days away, Manoah ignored the advice and tried to pitch through it -- only for the nail to start to open from the bottom after it kept catching on the baseball while throwing. It eventually fell off, and when Manoah met with a doctor, he was advised he should’ve used a hot needle in the first place.
“And I'm like, 'I can't go home and tell my wife that,’” Manoah said with a laugh. “But breaking pitches and the changeup mostly, it would catch. But it's all good now.”
Joyce, meanwhile, made his first appearance on Wednesday, throwing a scoreless inning with a strikeout and a walk with Rancho Cucamonga. Joyce, who is coming off right shoulder surgery last May, saw his velocity hover around 100-101 mph and was pleased with the way he felt. He’ll need a few more appearances and is likely to be moved up to Triple-A Salt Lake before he’s activated to join a bullpen that’s been scuffling in recent weeks.
"It was exciting,” Joyce said. “It’s been a long time coming. Been waiting for that for almost a year. So it was fun to get out there and compete and get in that game setting. I think it was a good step for sure.”
Yates, who began the year on the injured list with left knee inflammation, has already made three rehab appearances, including one with Rancho Cucamonga and two with Salt Lake. He gave up six runs in two innings with Salt Lake in Las Vegas but said he was hurt by a pair of homers after falling behind in the count -- but otherwise felt good.
The right-hander said he’s still trying to build up strength after losing seven to eight pounds because of the knee injury. His velocity has been in the low 90s and down from where it was during Spring Training, so he’ll need to see that tick up before he’s activated. He said he’s back to his normal weight and his legs are starting to get beneath him, but he’s not at full strength just yet.
“I think overall there’s obviously some work to be done, but don’t think it’s like we’re in a crazy spot where I can’t do it or can’t go out there and get outs,” Yates said. “I think my legs are starting to finally get under me and I can kind of feel it. The more stuff I do, the better it feels when I go and throw a baseball.”