ARLINGTON — Several Los Angeles Angels may have played their final games in 2024.
The Angels placed outfielders Jo Adell and Kevin Pillar on the 10-day Injured List before Saturday’s game against the Texas Rangers.
Both left Friday’s game early with injuries. Adell left after his at-bat in the second inning with a left oblique strain and Pillar, who replaced Adell, was pulled before the ninth with a left thumb sprain. An MRI after the game revealed the strain.
Additionally, right-hander José Soriano’s season is over after the Angels moved him from the 15-day IL to the 60-day IL to open up a roster spot. Angels manager Ron Washington said there has been no change in Soriano’s condition. He has been on the IL with right arm fatigue since Aug. 17.
Outfielders Bryce Teodosio and Jordyn Adams were recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake to fill the spots on the roster.
Adell is batting .207 with 20 home runs, 15 doubles, and 62 RBIs in 130 games in 2024. It’s by far his most extensive MLB playing time during his first five seasons in the league. Washington believes it’s a breakout season for the 25-year-old.
“I think he’s learned a lot about the game and he also learned a lot about himself and when you put those two things together, the next time you go through it you should be better for it,” Washington said. “There’s a lot of upside to his career.”
Oblique strains can linger, especially for a batter’s swing, making it unlikely Adell will return for the final two weeks of the season.
“When you strain that oblique, it’s not like you’re going to come back tomorrow,” Washington said. “We’re going to miss him, he was getting there. Now, he gets more time off.”
As for the veteran Pillar, 35, the Angels are expecting he’ll return before the season is done.
“It wasn’t damaged, but he had an operation on that thumb area before and the operation held, so it’s just muscle strain,” he said. “Hopefully, he can make it back before it’s over with.”
Promotion Shocks Teodosio
Angels prospect Bryce Teodosio did not see this coming.
The center fielder from Clemson was called into the office of Triple-A Salt Lake manager Keith Johnson after the Bees beat Sacramento 8-1 Friday night.
Johnson told Teodosio he was headed to the Majors for the first time.
“It was a surreal experience. I’m still in shock,” said Teodosio, who was in the Angels’ starting lineup, playing center field Saturday night at Globe Life Field. “Really and truly just super thankful for this opportunity and what the Angels have done for me, every opportunity I’ve gotten over the past couple of years.”
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Teodosio, who was signed as an undrafted free agent in July 2021, spent the previous two seasons in Double-A before starting 2024 with Salt Lake. He is batting .276 with 19 doubles, 12 triples, five home runs and 51 RBIs in 114 games this summer. He also has 40 stolen bases and has been caught only four times.
Teodosio’s wife Brooklyn was waiting for him in the player’s parking lot after Friday’s game. He greeted her with a big hug and the special news.
“We were both teary-eyed and shared a super special moment,’ he said. She flew in Saturday morning for his MLB debut.
Teodosio said he’ll try his best to treat Saturday just like any other Triple-A game. Teammate Charles Leblanc told him the biggest thing was to remember to breathe.
“I’ll try to enjoy the moment, soak it up, and try to have some fun,” he said. “This is a dream come true for me. Glory to the Lord for this opportunity. I did not think it was going to happen. Kind of thought that ship had sailed this year.”