The Los Angeles Angels are expecting the return of outfielder, Mickey Moniak, following a stint on the injured list due to an injury he sustained shortly after his acquisition.
Moniak was brought over from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for starting pitcher, Noah Syndergaard. But in just his fifth game with the Angels, Moniak squared to bunt, and his finger was struck by the ball, fracturing it.
Originally Moniak was feared to be out for the remainder of the regular season, however, some positive news has given him a window to return to manager Phil Nevin’s lineup before the year is over, via Jeff Fletcher of the O.C. Register:
Outfielder Mickey Moniak will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Salt Lake on Tuesday. Nevin said he’s not sure how much time Moniak will need, but he figures he’ll need at least 15 to 20 at-bats.
“We’re going to see how his at-bats go,” Nevin said. “It’s really a pain tolerance thing.”
Moniak went 4-for-14 in his five games with the Angels, clubbing two homers and playing with a bit of spark, something the Angels and the 24-year-old have needed.
The Angels and Nevin were understandably upset by the injury, given Moniak had a clean start with a new club and instantly contributing to some success.
A few Angels roster moves
On Sunday, the Angels made two roster moves that may not affect the MLB team at the moment but could have an impact in Triple-A and for the future. The first of these moves is acquiring right-handed pitcher Nash Walters from the Milwaukee Brewers.
Players not on their team’s 40-man rosters are allowed to be traded after the deadline has passed, hence why this trade comes over a month after the MLB deadline on Aug. 2. Walters has spent a majority of the 2022 season with the Brewers’ Double-A affiliate, the Biloxi Shuckers.