OC Register: Angels lose Felix Pena for season, place Griffin Canning and Andrelton Simmons on injured list

[AngelsWin.com]

CLEVELAND — The Angels, whose recent seasons have been spoiled by injuries, added three more players to the injured list in a day that was disturbing even by their standards.

Félix Peña will be out for the season, and perhaps into next season, with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, an unsurprising outcome after he had to be carried off the field on Saturday night.

The Angels also placed Griffin Canning on the injured list with elbow inflammation and Andrelton Simmons with a left ankle sprain and a bone bruise.

They are unsure how much time either player will miss.

Canning’s turn in the rotation will be taken by prospect Patrick Sandoval, who joined the team on Sunday in order to make the start in Cincinnati on Monday. Andrew Heaney, who is scheduled for a simulated game on Monday, could be back in time to fill Peña’s rotation spot next weekend.

Canning said he felt a little tightness after his start on Tuesday night, in which he pitched six scoreless innings. An MRI exam on Saturday showed no structural damage.

“Any time you have any injury you are kind of worried, but I definitely could have still thrown tomorrow,” Canning said. “I sat down with the medical staff and (manager Brad Ausmus) and (pitching coach Doug White) and we thought it might be a better idea to for sure see what’s going on.”

Simmons was hitting in the cage shortly before Saturday’s game when he felt some unusual discomfort in his ankle. It was the same ankle that he sprained in May, although the pain was on the inside this time.

“It was the most normal swing,” Simmons said. “It’s kind of weird… It’s kind of odd and a little confusing right now.”

Although Simmons said the MRI showed some ligament damage, he was unsure if this will be a long-term injury.

“This one is a mystery to me,” he said. “I don’t know. Hopefully it’s a couple days. I have no clue.”

Peña, meanwhile, clearly had suffered a serious knee injury when he crumpled to the field in the second inning of Saturday’s game. He was covering first base, when he grabbed his knee and went to the ground. He was unable to even walk off the field.

Ausmus said once the swelling goes down, Peña will have surgery. At that point, the Angels will know just how much time he will miss. Ausmus said it will likely be six to nine months. Spring training starts in six and a half months.

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In order to fill the spots of the newly injured players, the Angels called up reliever Luke Bard, infielder Wilfredo Tovar and two-way player Jared Walsh. The Angels had a vacant spot on the 40-man roster for Tovar.

The roster shuffle was the latest for an Angels team that has spent the season trying to piece together a pitching staff.

“It’s not how we would have scripted this season, for sure,” Ausmus said, “but we have to find a way to win games, regardless.”

SANDOVAL’S TURN

Sandoval, a product of Mission Viejo High, got the news on Saturday afternoon in Salt Lake City that he was on his way to the big leagues.

“It’s exciting,” he said. “I’m very excited. It’s a dream come true.”

Sandoval, a 22-year-old lefty, was acquired in the Martín Maldonado trade just over a year ago. After posting a 2.06 ERA last season, this year he’s struggled to a 5.71 ERA, mostly in the hitter friendly Pacific Coast League.

Because of his numbers, Sandoval admitted he was “a little bit” surprised to get the call, but he said he’d made some adjustments and improved lately. He allowed five earned runs in 16 innings in his last three starts, with 21 strikeouts.

The Angels will need to add Sandoval to the 40-man roster, but they can put Peña on the 60-day injured list.

UP NEXT

Angels (LHP Patrick Sandoval, major league debut) at Reds (RHP Luís Castillo, 10-4, 2.63), 4:10 p.m., Fox Sports West

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[mustard relish sauerkraut]

Ausmus said ..." Spring training starts in six and a half months".

 

-- quote of the day.

[TroutField]

1 hour ago, i want it NOW said:

Ausmus said ..." Spring training starts in six and a half months".

 

-- quote of the day.

Hey something to look forward to!