Los Angeles Angels general manager Perry Minasian focused on upgrading his bullpen this offseason with multiple signings both at the Major League and Minor League levels.
That added depth will prove to be important throughout the season as relievers will deal with injuries and struggles. The club is already dealing with one as José Marte has stopped throwing due to right elbow trouble.
The absence of the 26-year-old reliever won’t leave a gaping hole in their depth, but his upside and potential are brought to a halt. The injury is going to keep him out for at least a couple of months, via Jeff Fletcher of the O.C. Register:
Right-hander José Marte, who hasn’t pitched in a game all spring, underwent imaging that showed a stress reaction in his right elbow, an injury that will cost him at least a couple of months. It’s a bone injury, not a problem with any of the ligaments in his elbow, according to Manager Phil Nevin
The silver lining in all of it is Marte is free from ligament damage and barring any setbacks or residual effects from a lack of throwing, he should return to action once cleared by the Angels’ medical staff. Thankfully there’s a plan for the right-hander moving forward:
Marte will be shut down from any throwing for four weeks.
“It’s unfortunate,” Nevin said. “We were real excited about the way he was throwing, but he got ahead of it letting us know there was some discomfort in there before it got any worse.”
Marte’s arsenal includes a heavy dose of cutters, four-seam fastballs with a hint of sinkers, and an altered mix from his 2021 usage. Once he’s healthy, expect a continued push from the Angels staff to get him back to pre-injury form.
He finished the 2022 season tossing 11 levels in Major League Baseball, carrying a 7.36 ERA, 7.66 FIP, 25.9% strikeout rate, 31% walk rate and -0.3 WAR.
Angels righty Chris Rodriguez faces hitters for first time since shoulder surgery
Chris Rodriguez looked like a budding star during his brief stint with the Angels in 2021 before shoulder inflammation cost him the final two months of the season.
The right-hander flashed three plus pitches and went 2-1 with a 3.64 ERA, 3.14 FIP and 1.45 WHIP in 29.2 innings of work (15 games, two starts).
Rodriguez underwent shoulder capsule surgery in October 2021 and was supposed to return to the mound last season, but suffered a setback and did not pitch at all.
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