OC Register: Angels All-Star Tommy La Stella nearing return from injured list

[AngelsWin.com]

ANAHEIM — The last time Tommy La Stella was on the field, he was a freshly minted All-Star enjoying the finest season of his career.

Now, the Angels infielder just wants to have a chance to finish that season.

La Stella, who fractured his tibia on a foul ball days after being named to the All-Star team, could be within two weeks of returning.

La Stella said he’s not going on the Angels’ trip next week, so it seems the soonest he could return would be Sept. 9, the start of a six-game homestand.

“I definitely want to get back out there and finish up strong and get some AB’s going into the offseason and try to pick up where I left off as far as the approach and what I’m thinking about,” La Stella said Wednesday.

La Stella has started taking batting practice in the cage. He said he’s expecting to have batting practice on the field for the first time on Friday. He’s also been taking ground balls and throwing.

So far he’s only jogging on a treadmill, not on the field.

“Everything feels pretty good,” La Stella said. “We’re just doing a regular protocol and checking off all the boxes.”

When La Stella was hurt on July 3, the initial diagnosis was that he’d miss eight to 10 weeks. Wednesday marked eight weeks since the injury, so he appears to be right on schedule.

For most of the time he was out, he was limited to work in the trainer’s room or gym, so the increase in the past week has been welcomed.

“It’s been nice the last couple weeks to do some baseball activity, picking up a bat and throwing again,” he said. “So it’s been fun.”

MARSH TO FALL LEAGUE

Brandon Marsh, generally considered the Angels’ second-best prospect, will join top prospect Jo Adell in the Arizona Fall League.

Although the league announced last week that Adell would play, the rest of the rosters were announced on Wednesday.

Marsh, 21, has hit .284 with seven homers and a .773 OPS, mostly at Double-A. Over his past 27 games, he has hit .346 with a .940 OPS.

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Infielder Jahmai Jones will also return to the Fall League for a second time. Pitchers Nathan Bates, Aaron Hernandez, Isaac Mattson, Austin Warren and catcher Franklin Torres were also selected.

They will all play for Mesa. The AFL season begins Sept. 18. The championship game is Oct. 26.

ALSO

The Angels will push Jaime Barría back a couple of days the next time through the rotation, keeping Andrew Heaney on his normal turn. Left-handers José Suarez, Dillon Peters and Heaney will start the three games against the Boston Red Sox, starting Friday. …

Justin Anderson, who is out with a strained trap, will throw a bullpen session on Friday.

UP NEXT

Angels (LHP José Suarez, 2-5, 6.67 ERA) vs. Red Sox (RHP Nate Eovaldi, 1-0, 6.64 ERA), Friday, 7:07 p.m., Fox Sports West, 830 AM

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