On Sunday, Angels supervisor Phil Nevin informed reporters, together with Sam Blum of The Athletic, that catcher Logan O’Hoppe has a torn labrum in his left (non-throwing) shoulder that may require surgical procedure. The 23-year-old catcher is predicted to overlook 4 to 6 months, doubtlessly placing his season in jeopardy.
O’Hoppe was acquired by the Angels on the commerce deadline final season within the deal that despatched outfielder Brandon Marsh to the Phillies. A consensus top-50 prospect within the sport coming into the 2023 season, O’Hoppe earned the Angels’ beginning catching job out of camp this season regardless of having simply 5 video games of huge league expertise beneath his belt. The teen was off to a powerful begin this season, with a .283/.339/.547 slash line throughout 16 video games that was good for a wRC+ of 142.
Shedding such a productive bat for many, if not all, of the the season is an enormous blow to the Angels, who’ve largely seen their offense wrestle outdoors of superstars Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani, with solely O’Hoppe and outfielder Hunter Renfroe posting an above common wRC+ thus far this season among the many remainder of the membership’s offense.
Along with shedding O’Hoppe’s bat, the Angels now discover themselves with out both half of their normal beginning tandem, as Max Stassi doesn’t seem like near a return from the hip ailment that sidelined him at first of the season. Till Stassi returns, the Angels determine to make use of Matt Thaiss, who opened the season because the membership’s third catcher, and journeyman Chad Wallach behind the plate.
Neither of these choices encourage the identical confidence that O’Hoppe would, as Wallach sports activities only a 59 wRC+ in 274 profession plate appearances since his MLB debut with the Reds in 2017, whereas Thaiss solely started catching in 2021 and has a profession wRC+ of 81 in 298 plate appearances.
Given the worrying scenario behind the plate for Anaheim, it wouldn’t be a shock to see the membership discover exterior catching choices to complement their present group. Robinson Chirinos and Austin Romine can be found on the free agent market, whereas Gary Sanchez and Jorge Alfaro are among the many catchers with important large league expertise who’re on minor league offers in different organizations.
