BOSTON — The Angels had high hopes of getting Robert Stephenson back in their bullpen soon, but now that’s on hold.
Stephenson left his first rehab outing after throwing just four pitches on Saturday night. The pitches were 96-98 mph, but all four were out of the strike zone. Stephenson then called for an athletic trainer and he was removed from the game.
“We’re going to get him examined,” manager Ron Washington said on Sunday morning. “I don’t have any more than that.”
The Angels signed Stephenson to a three-year, $33-million deal over the winter. He suffered a shoulder injury before pitching in any spring training games. An MRI exam revealed only inflammation, so Stephenson was progressing well toward a return by the end of April. He faced hitters earlier this week in Anaheim, before being sent to pitch at least two games for Triple-A Salt Lake.
“The way he was throwing the baseball before he went on rehab was electric,” Washington said. “You just wanted him in your bullpen. And then something like that happens. But until we know what it is, I’m not going to speculate.”
Without Stephenson, the Angels bullpen has still been able to hold every lead they’ve been given. The rough outings have been in games the Angels were already losing.
When Stephenson returns, he figures to join left-hander Matt Moore as the two primary setup men for closer Carlos Estévez.
Not good…#Angels RP Robert Stephenson issues a 4-pitch walk, then calls out the trainer, and leaves the game in his first rehab apprarance pic.twitter.com/Ws6hEEiLRC
— AngelsMiLB (@AngelsMiLB) April 14, 2024
IMPROVED
First baseman Nolan Schanuel said he was feeling “better” a day after leaving the game with a testicular contusion, the result of a foul ball.
Schanuel participated in defensive and agility drills on Sunday morning. Washington said he was available to play on Sunday, and he would “be back in the lineup” on Monday.
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NOTES
The Angels’ next homer will be the 9,000th homer in franchise history. …
Taylor Ward’s 16 RBIs are the most for any Angels player through 14 team games since Tim Salmon had 17 RBI in the Angels’ first 14 games in 1999.
UP NEXT
Angels (LHP Patrick Sandoval, 1-2, 6.57) vs. Rays (TBD) at Tropicana Field, 3:50 p.m. PT Monday, Bally Sports West, 830 AM.