ANAHEIM — Through the headaches, the throbbing head pressure and the sleepless nights, Angels outfielder Wade Meckler still was able to avoid an extended stay on the concussion injured list.
Meckler was activated on Friday, just a week after he was hit by a pitch from Houston Astros left-hander Bryan King. The 90.6-mph sinker connected with the right side of Meckler’s batting helmet and dropped him to the ground.
“Obviously, after it happened, I was concerned it was going to be a little bit longer, and we were able to get through and pass those tests and get out there,” Meckler said.
Meckler even played in a pair of minor league rehab games at Class-A Rancho Cucamonga and hit a home run. But as he regained his bearings after taking a pitch to the head, he never imagined he would be back so soon.
“I was concerned about finishing the season,” he said. “But, you know, no more concerned than any other time that you would miss an extended period of time. You’re just kind of anxious to get out there and finish the season.”
The head injury came as Meckler was getting extended playing time in the major leagues for the first time at age 26. And he was getting that chance with his hometown club after attending nearby Esperanza High.
“It’s just like any other year, (but) obviously, you’re in the big leagues and it’s bigger stakes and games matter a little bit more,” Meckler said. “I just want to be a productive player, no matter where I’m playing, whether that’s rehabbing in Rancho or whether that’s here. So as long as I’m being a productive player, I’m happy.”
Meckler made his major league debut in 2023 with the San Francisco Giants and batted .232 over 20 games. The short stay meant that his rookie status remained intact when he was recalled by the Angels in May.
In his second major league chance, he has been productive from the start. He hit a home run in his Angels debut on May 22 and was batting .311 with two home runs and 17 RBIs through his first 47 games.
His production had waned slightly heading into last week, when he was batting .288 with three home runs, 20 RBIs and 28 runs scored when he was forced to take a week off.
“It’s nice having him back. Just kind of that sparkplug-ish type player that gives you a good at-bat,” Angels manager Kurt Suzuki said. “Obviously, the defense is really good, too. So definitely a nice piece to have back in the lineup.”
Suzuki said he will keep a close eye on Meckler, but noted there are no limitations from the medical staff.
And Meckler has no intention of taking it easy as he returns to action. He was batting in the No. 3 spot in the lineup on Friday against the Philadelphia Phillies.
“Not a whole lot you could do about a fastball running up and in,” Meckler said. “But yeah, I’m just trying to understand the type of game that I have to play to be a productive player. I try to display that game every day.”
Before he was injured, Meckler had been in the leadoff spot in 11 of his past 14 games. Friday was his 13th start in the No. 3 spot to tie his most with the fifth spot of the order.
“I don’t really have any expectations about lineup or playing time or anything like that. You know, that’s not really my job,” he said. “I just get the lineup when it gets sent out, and I figure out what my job is that day, and I try to do that job.”
SIX OF A KIND
Suzuki said that after Thursday’s off day, the Angels are still weighing the pros and cons of remaining in a six-man rotation. The staff went to six starters when left-hander Yusei Kikuchi returned from his left shoulder injury on Sunday.
“That can get tricky, right? When you have so many off days and a six-man, some guys might get three extra days, which might throw things off,” Suzuki said. “So, that’s why we’re kind of thinking about it moving forward. This time, I think everybody’s going to make their start. But yeah, we’ve got to think about it going forward.”
Left-hander Reid Detmers was starting a full week after his previous outing last Friday against the Texas Rangers.
“It’s treading that fine line of giving them too many days off, but also managing workloads,” Suzuki said.
ALSO
Left-handed reliever Samy Natera, who has been on the injured list retroactive to Aug. 17 with lower back spasms, was set to make his first rehab outing on Friday with Rancho Cucamonga.
UP NEXT
Phillies (LHP Cristopher Sanchez, 16-4, 2.62 ERA) at Angels (RHP Ryan Johnson, 3-7, 5.75 ERA), Saturday, 7:07 p.m., ABTV, 830 AM, 1330 AM