The Los Angeles Angels won their final game in Arlington against the Texas Rangers on Thursday but suffered many losses to the roster. It began when rookie sensation Zach Neto was placed on the 10-day IL with an oblique injury after being pulled on Wednesday with cramps. Then on Thursday, the injury bug was in full force for the Angels. After tripping on first base, Gio Urshela was diagnosed with a fractured pelvis. Finally, the oft-injured Anthony Rendon took a pitch off the hand and hasn’t played since due to lingering soreness in that hand.
Gio Urshela has a “Left Pelvis Fracture.” Thats a vague diagnosis and uncommon in an adult athlete.
While there’s a broad range of possibilities, given the injury mechanism, Urshela likely suffered what’s known as an “avulsion fracture.”
It happened right here:
🧵 pic.twitter.com/KOKtjP8j3v— Angels TopPlays (@PlaysAngels) June 16, 2023
Injury Bug Puts Angels’ Depth to The Test
The Short-Term Answers
Every team will have to deal with injuries that keep guys out for the short term. Last year’s injuries took the Angels’ season from them. However, guys like Luis Rengifo can fill the spots for a handful of games this year. Rengifo had a great year in 2022 while getting plenty of playing time. The versatility he has will be helpful with both other third basemen injured.
Down in Triple-A, the Angels still have guys with major-league experience. Andrew Velazquez is one of these players. He ended up being the main starting shortstop for the Angels last year due to injuries. He doesn’t set the world on fire in the batter’s box but is excellent in the field. Velazquez had 15 defensive runs saved in 2022. The numbers between 15-20 usually indicate the best fielders. At least on the defensive side of the ball, the Angels won’t miss a beat.
The Angels have a few other guys who can hold things down in Salt Lake. Michael Stefanic is a guy many Angels fans who follow the farm system wanted to get a chance in Anaheim. He got a cup of coffee in 2022 and looked to be getting a similar chance this year. Stefanic was hitting near .300 in AAA, so given an extended look, he may become a specialty player for Phil Nevin.
Preventing the Revolving Door
The only thing the Angels must avoid is turning multiple positions into spots with no real spot starter. Letting a player get used to one place on the diamond helps the whole team. Looking at the line-up and knowing you have a spot even as a replacement builds confidence. Versatility as a skill is good in baseball, but knowing that you have a single place makes things easier to manage.
Fortunately, the Angels have more players to fill more traditional bench spots. For example, Jake Lamb plays the corner infield spots of first and third base. That alone makes certain things fall into place better. Luis Rengfio is the backup middle infielder, handling shortstop and second base. The same goes for Andrew Velazquez playing his best position most of the time at short. A little thing like that during roster construction can pay dividends.
Fortunately, the recent injury bug hasn’t slowed down the Angels’ current hot streak. Things are beginning to turn around for the Angels during this stretch of games. Every team deals with injuries during a season. The excellent teams will push through the rough patches as other players pick up the slack.
Easier Schedule
On a positive note, the schedule will lighten up during this spell of injuries. The Angels have an off day Monday, followed by two games with the crosstown rival Los Angeles Dodgers, then a weekend series in Denver facing the Colorado Rockies. From now until the All-Star break, the farthest the Angels will travel is to Denver. A small amount of traveling is an enormous plus. Not having to change time zones, sometimes multiple time zones, takes some pressure off the body.
Another key in the coming weeks is the teams they will be playing. The Dodgers, San Diego Padres, and Chicago White Sox are underperforming to some degree. The Arizona Diamondbacks are playing incredibly well and fighting for the National League’s best record.
Keeping everything in perspective is the key right now. The All-Star break is almost here, and that will allow the guys to get right and ready for the second half of the season. Currently, there is no reason to think the Angels will slide and lose the momentum they have had over the last couple of weeks. A more manageable schedule for the foreseeable future, depth at the minor league level, and veterans who should step up all point to the Angels weathering the storm.
Photo Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Players Mentioned: Zach Neto, Gio Urshela, Anthony Rendon, Luis Rengifo, Andrew Velazquez, Michael Stefanic, Jake Lamb
Managers Mentioned: Phil Nevin
