After becoming one of the Los Angeles Angels’ most trusted relievers in 2021, Austin Warren has not been able to replicate that success the past two seasons.
He struggled to a 5.63 ERA across 16 innings last year and posted a 5.40 ERA in two appearances this year before he was shut down due to an injury. The Angels did not give an official diagnosis on the injury but shut him down from throwing.
The Angels’ plan was for Warren to take four to six weeks, but after undergoing more evaluations, he will be out much longer than they hoped. Warren is set to undergo Tommy John surgery after receiving a second opinion and discussing his options with a doctor, via Doug Padilla of The Orange County Register:
“It’s tough. I’ve never had any elbow issues,” Warren said. “I was praying every day, hoping it wouldn’t be this. But it is what it is and I will be back in a year. … I wouldn’t say I was surprised. I knew after the first MRI that I had a tear. I went for a second opinion and had a doctor help me make my decision. It made it a lot easier.”
The 27-year-old will miss the rest of the 2023 season, but he should be able to return at some point in 2024. The general timeline for recovery from Tommy John is about 12-18 months, but relievers usually return quicker than starters because of their lighter workload.
The Angels will also be without Aaron Loup, who was placed on the 15-day injured list on Friday with a hamstring injury.
Despite the recent injuries in their bullpen, the Angels currently have the third most effective group in all of Major League Baseball with a collective 2.85 ERA. Their 123.1 innings rank sixth in MLB, which also draws some red flags because of their heightened usage.
José Quijada To Undergo Tommy John Surgery
Coming into 2023, José Quijada was poised to take another step in his development as a high-powered arm. The left-hander took part in the World Baseball Classic with Team Venezuela but shortly into his regular season campaign, his fantastic performance hit a snag.
His stellar start to the season was derailed by a nagging feeling in his throwing arm, and after the Angels shut him down. A second opinion confirmed initial reports that Quijada would be out for a significant period of time with the need for Tommy John surgery.
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