ANAHEIM — A day after Logan O’Hoppe was pulled because of a sore right knee, he was right back behind the plate and in the middle of the Angels’ lineup.
That should be no surprise to anyone who has paid attention to O’Hoppe’s early career.
O’Hoppe said on Tuesday that his knee felt “good walking around, no pain or anything going up steps.” He also said he didn’t undergo any further tests.
And he’s not planning to do anything different in the way he plays in order to make sure his knee doesn’t become an issue.
“As far as being on the field, nothing’s gonna change,” O’Hoppe said. “If I’m out there, I’m not gonna pull back. If I’m out there, I’m giving everything I have. People say that’s not smart, but I really don’t care. I’d rather not be here than not give everything I have.”
O’Hoppe said he could “manage it in here,” referring to work in the gym and trainer’s room.
O’Hoppe, 24, has caught more innings than anyone else in the majors. On Tuesday night he caught for the 98th time in 120 games. He said in June that his goal is to catch 150 games in a season. Brad Ausmus caught 150 games in 2000, and no one has done it since.
Manager Ron Washington said he’s learned that there are times that he won’t even bother to ask O’Hoppe if he needs a day off.
“Just give him time off,” Washington said. “I’m not concerned about how he feels, about what’s going on. Sometimes, when you get kids like that, you’ve got to make decisions for them, because if you talk to him, no matter how he feels he thinks he should be there every day.”
PITCHING MOVES
The Angels had been operating one reliever short since they called up Jack Kochanowicz as the sixth starter to fill the hole created by last week’s doubleheader. They rectified that by sending down right-hander Davis Daniel, which meant that Kochanowicz passed Daniel to take over the fifth spot.
Kochanowicz, 23, took a shutout into the eighth inning on Sunday in Washington, eventually giving up two runs in 7⅔ innings. It was much better than his first two starts, when he allowed 12 runs.
Daniel, 27, has also pitched at both ends of the spectrum. He gave up one run in 13 innings in his two best starts, but he allowed 20 earned runs in 17⅓ innings in the other four starts.
Daniel was replaced on the roster by left-hander Kenny Rosenberg. He started one game this season, but he’s mostly been used as a long reliever.
The Angels could make another move on Wednesday, when left-hander Brock Burke could join the active roster. The Angels claimed Burke on waivers from the Texas Rangers on Tuesday.
Burke, 28, has a 9.22 ERA in 13⅔ innings with the Rangers this season. In 2022, he had a 1.97 ERA in 82⅓ innings with the Rangers, and that rose to 4.37 last year.
The Angels also claimed right-hander Nick Robertson on waivers from the St. Louis Cardinals, and they optioned him to Triple-A.
Robertson, 26, had a 4.38 ERA in 12⅓ innings with the Cardinals this season. He also had a 7.48 ERA at Triple-A.
Robertson has a career 5.45 ERA in the majors, but his most promising work was in Triple-A in the Dodgers organization last season. He had a 2.54 ERA in 28⅓ innings, with 42 strikeouts.
NOTES
The Angels released left-handers Amir Garrett and Adam Kolarek, who had been at Triple-A. The Angels signed Garrett to a minor league deal early in the season, and he pitched 5⅓ innings in the majors. He had a 5.08 ERA at Triple-A. Kolarek signed a major league deal last winter and never pitched in the big leagues with the Angels. He had a 6.97 ERA at Salt Lake. …
The Angels signed veteran right-hander Corey Knebel to a minor-league deal and assigned him to Triple-A. Knebel hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2022. He had a 5.91 ERA this season in the Chicago White Sox farm system. …
Right fielder Jo Adell, who robbed a home run on Monday night, leads all major league right fielders with nine Defensive Runs Saved.
UP NEXT
Blue Jays (RHP José Berrios, 10-9, 3.97 ERA) at Angels (LHP Tyler Anderson, 9-10, 2.99), Wednesday, 6:38 p.m., Bally Sports West, 830 AM