The Los Angeles Angels have not got off to the start they hoped for, but rookie catcher Logan O’Hoppe has been among the bright spots for the club.
The backstop had been receiving praise from the pitching staff for his leadership qualities while providing elite offensive performance from the bottom of the lineup. However, O’Hoppe injured his shoulder during Thursday’s matchup against the New York Yankees which will cause him to miss extended time.
O’Hoppe was diagnosed with a torn labrum in his left shoulder, a significant injury that could cause him to miss the rest of the season, via J.P. Hoornstra of The Orange County Register:
Manager Phil Nevin said O’Hoppe will need four to six months to recover, making the earliest he could return in late August – if he returns this season at all.
“I know it puts the rest of the season in jeopardy, but I know he’ll work his tail off to get back,” Nevin said.
O’Hoppe was establishing himself among the game’s best catchers and one of its bright young stars. He was also a key piece to getting the Angels back into the playoff race as they look to make the postseason for the first time since 2014.
Despite the tough situation to deal with, O’Hoppe is determined to do everything he can to get back on the field and produce at a high level:
“It’s a tough pill to swallow,” he said. “You do everything in your power that it doesn’t happen. One thing I have to tell myself the past couple days is that sitting around and feeling sorry for myself isn’t going to help any situation. I look at it like a challenge.”
O’Hoppe was given the opportunity to join the Major League roster to begin the 2023 season and the 23-year-old No. 1 prospect has made the most of it. In 53 at-bats he’s posted a .886 on-base plus slugging including a team-leading four home runs, 13 RBI, and six total extra-base hits.
To supplement the catcher position behind Matt Thaiss, the Angels called up Chad Wallach, who had been in Triple-A with the Salt Lake Bees, when they placed O’Hoppe on the 15-day injured list.
Trip to Yankee Stadium was a special moment for Logan O’Hoppe
O’Hoppe grew up on Long Island and as a kid, he rooted for the Yankees. As a young player in MLB, it was a sweet moment to not only visit Yankee Stadium but to start in multiple games meant a whole lot.
Many of O’Hoppe’s family members and friends attended Tuesday’s game to watch him in person, and the group intentionally left one seat empty in memory of the catcher’s Aunt Dana, who passed away in 2015.
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