Angels Notes: Soler, Trout, Stephenson

Slugger Jorge Soler exited in the present day’s Angels recreation within the second inning, and the Angels later introduced that it was as a consequence of groin tightness. Soler was already recognized to be day-to-day as a result of groin situation in current days, however evidently it flared up throughout this night’s recreation in opposition to the Mariners. An replace on Soler’s standing will doubtless be out there after the sport, however the situation is made a bit extra sophisticated than it could be in any other case as a result of standing of Mike Trout.

Soler has usually served as Anaheim’s DH this season, though he’s hit a lackluster .217/.291/.377 (88 wRC+) so far within the yr. In newer weeks, nonetheless, Soler has turn out to be the membership’s on a regular basis proper fielder whereas Trout returns to the lineup because the on a regular basis DH. As famous by Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register earlier in the present day, Trout is working his manner again in the direction of a return to the outfield by doing a little drills on the grass. Supervisor Ron Washington relayed that Trout was feeling good after these drills, however they’ve nonetheless been “minimal” and haven’t “actually challenged” the veteran star. That would appear to point Trout remains to be a minimum of a number of days away from returning to proper area regularly in video games.

A return to DH’ing regularly would absolutely be much less strenuous on Soler’s ailing groin, however that gained’t be doable till Trout returns to the outfield. The three-time MVP is 10-for-25 with three walks, a double, and a homer since getting back from the injured listing and clearly gained’t be sitting in deference to Soler. If Soler isn’t wholesome sufficient to play the sector, that might depart the Angels with little selection however to position him on the injured listing. Ought to that come to cross, some mixture of Matthew Lugo, Chris Taylor, and maybe Scott Kingery may see time within the outfield, assuming the Angels don’t name up one other outfield possibility like Kyren Paris.

In different information across the membership, MLB.com’s Rhett Bollinger writes that right-hander Robert Stephenson has undergone two MRI exams since being positioned on the injured listing as a consequence of irritation in his proper biceps. Bollinger notes that these exams revealed no structural harm, and relays that Stephenson instructed reporters that he’s coping with a stretched nerve, which he described as a “freak harm.” The weird nature of Stephenson’s harm implies that he has no clear timetable for return, and the right-hander added that there’s no therapy for the problem apart from relaxation.

That implies he might be unable to throw for fairly some time, which might be an extremely irritating flip of occasions for a pitcher who missed your entire 2024 season as a consequence of Tommy John surgical procedure and made it again to pitch only one inning earlier than he as soon as once more hit the shelf. The 32-year-old turned in 38 1/3 dominant innings for the Rays throughout his most up-to-date wholesome marketing campaign in 2023, pitching to a 2.35 ERA and hanging out a whopping 42.9% of opponents confronted. That displaying was spectacular sufficient that the Angels awarded him a three-year, $33MM deal that offseason, although they’ve but to get a lot of something out of it as a consequence of Stephenson’s harm woes.