The Los Angeles Angels made a series of roster moves on Monday, which included placing Anthony Rendon on the 10-day injured list with a left groin strain.
In addition, Livan Soto was recalled from Double-A Rocket City to take Rendon’s place on the active roster, while Chad Wallach was activated off the 7-day concussion IL and Chris Okey was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake.
Rendon’s trip to the IL is retroactive to Sunday, May 14, and is expected to keep him out until late May. The 32-year-old is set to undergo additional testing, but he doesn’t believe it’s anything major, via Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register:
“I don’t think it’s too bad,” Rendon said, “but I’ve thought that in the past too and it’s been a little longer. We’ve just got to come up with a game plan today.”
This is the third consecutive season Rendon has been placed on the IL, which has left him annoyed, but trying to remain optimistic:
“It’s definitely frustrating,” Rendon said. “I’m angry, whatever adjective for not happy you can think. I’m trying to be positive throughout the whole thing. That’s one thing I’ve learned over the last couple of years. I’ve been getting punched a lot lately. It sucks.”
Rendon was hitting .301/.415/.369 with one home run and 20 RBI across 130 plate appearances this season.
Soto joins the team to provide them with a left-handed hitting infield bat. The Angels’ No. 15 prospect was hitting .182/.348/.218 for Double-A with 10 runs, one RBI and 13 walks across 17 games.
He made his MLB debut last season with the Angels, hitting .400/.414/.582 in 18 games.
Angels swap catchers
Wallach returns to the Angels after last appearing in a game on May 6, when he went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts against the Texas Rangers. The 31-year-old woke up the following morning with a stiff neck, which landed him in concussion protocol.
Wallach has shared backup catching duties with Matt Thaiss this season, hitting .267/.290/.500 with one double, two home runs and six RBI in 10 games.
Okey returns to Triple-A after a brief stint with the Angels where he went hitless in two plate appearances. The 28-year-old will continue to provide depth for the Angels with Logan O’Hoppe out for the season and Max Stassi without a timeline on the IL.
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