TODAY: Simmons updated Hoornstra (Twitter links) and other reporters on his status today, including the good news that surgery won’t be required. Once the swelling around the ankle goes down in another week or two, Simmons and the team will have a better sense of how long it will be before the shortstop is able to return to action.
TUESDAY, 6:57pm: Simmons, moving around the clubhouse on crutches, didn’t have a timeline for his return when asked by reporters, J.P. Hoornstra of the Southern California News Group tweets. MLB.com’s Rhett Bollinger tweets that the typical recovery timeline would range from eight to 12 weeks, but the Angels won’t know for certain until tomorrow.
4:42pm: The Angels announced that shortstop Andrelton Simmons has been diagnosed with a Grade 3 ankle sprain and been placed on the 10-day injured list. He’ll see a specialist tomorrow, after which the team will provide more details on his expected timeline. However, a Grade 3 sprain is severe (indicating a ligament tear), so Simmons will quite likely be on the shelf for an extended period of time. Luis Rengifo is up from Triple-A Salt Lake to take his spot on the active roster.
It’s a huge blow for the Angels, who saw both Simmons and Shohei Ohtani exit last night’s game due to injury. Thankfully, there’s better news on Ohtani, who is feeling better today after being hit by a pitch last night. He’s in the lineup for the Angels tonight.
The 29-year-old Simmons, in addition to long being known as perhaps baseball’s premier defensive player, has progressed offensively in recent seasons as well. He’d been out to a .298/.323/.415 start with three home runs, 13 doubles and five steals through his first 195 plate appearances on the year. That’s a tough all-around asset for any team to lose, and Simmons’ absence will be felt all the more by an Angels club that is also still without left fielder Justin Upton in the middle of its lineup.
The Angels entered the season with aspirations of returning to the postseason for the first time since a 2014 trip to the American League Division Series (where they lost to the Royals). But between injuries to key players such as Upton and Andrew Heaney and poor performances from offseason rotation additions like Matt Harvey, Trevor Cahill and Chris Stratton (now with the Pirates), the Angels find themselves three games under .500 (22-25) and already nine and a half games back of the Astros in the American League West. The team’s three-and-a-half game deficit in the American League Wild Card race is far more manageable, but the loss of Simmons will obviously further lessen their chances.
was there last night. looked pretty nasty, glad it isn’t broken though
was one of the better hitters but started to slide lately. Hopefully he can be back in 2 weeks
I literally suffered the same injury playing in high school. He’s prob out closer to 2-3 months
Grade 3 means torn ligament. He’s out close to 3 months
No, he WISHES it was a break. Grade 3 years are far worse and the ligament may never regain its previous strength, depending on surgery. You always prefer an ankle break to a significant sprain
2 weeks?
hope the angels tank.
Idc what they do, but they’re wasting trouts talent
Yeah exactly what other nincompoops say.. in fact why is this a story? I thought the rest of the angel team is garbage and “wasting trouts talent”
Oh..
He’s not going to your team. And while you’re at it, look up the long list of playoff appearances Ken Griffey Jr. had. It happens. I’m sure Trout himself would tell you his talent is not being wasted. He’s fulfilled his potential and is still getting better. And one of the reasons he signed his extension was the Angels’ renewed investment in their farm system.
I think most people would say that Griffey’s career ended very disappointingly and no one wants that for Trout
I think his point is these people that keep saying the Angels are “wasting Trout’s talent” know nothing about baseball and are in fact trolls in their parents basement. To your point about Griffey, would you say the same about Ty Cobb or Ted Williams? They never won a ring and they were two of the greatest hitters of all time. Let’s hear the excuse for them now….
Major bummer. I understand why the Braves traded him but still miss him in Atlanta.
Big chance for Luis Rengifo, Simmons will be missed but feel Angels not going anyway this year. Best wishes Simba you are a fan favorite.
Rengifo didn’t hit at AAA., was horrid up here and no one considers him a top 100 prospect. Fangraphs doesn’t even have him as a top 130 prospect .
I think the Angels have a better chance than Rengifo, and the Angels have almost no chance.
Rengifo is barely 22 and started last season below AA. its highly unlikely you jump directly onto the top 100 after not being in your team’s 30 the previous year.
That has no bearing on the future performance of a player. Kole Calhoun was never a highly regarded prospect by any means, but cemented himself into the Angels OF.
Neither was david fletcher….dudes a beast super utility and hits well enough.
Major bummer; hope it’s not too serious. I’m 100 years old (or thereabouts) and I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a better shortstop; and yes, I remember all the “great” ones. Oh ya, and he hits some.
Takes all the fun for us East coasters of watching the Angels, as much good stuff as Trout produces. Simba’s just fun.
I typically don’t get excited about prospects until they are ranked in the top 100. There is nothing I’ve seen to indicate this guy is even close to being ready.
I’m just not optimistic about him. But I wasn’t optimistic about Fletcher either. Or virtually any prospect that didn’t make the top 100 list.
The way the Yankees, Rays and Red Soxs are playing currently the Angel’s would be a long shot to make the playoffs. Still sad to see him go down for any length of time. He’s fun to watch.
They were hanging by a thread. If they were 500 when Upton came back, I thought they had a punchers chance. But losing Simmons is too much.
Simmons is the Angels second best player.
Heaney struck out 10 across 4 1/3 innings in yesterday’s rehab start. Having Upton, Ohtani, Heaney and maybe a July add and they could push. But damn.
I saw a way there if things went right, but little has gone right. You can’t lose Simmons and replace him with Cozart and expect this team to keep in the race. It was tentative as it was.
I’m as optimistic about Heaney and Skaggs and Canning as anyone. I just don’t see it.
Just a reminder, WAR is also relative to league averages at any given position, so Simmons’ 7.1 WAR a couple years ago was also relative to playing at a position where most players are not that valuable.
The Braves trade of Simmons was the worst trade of the rebuild. We got two pitching prospects, one of which is no longer in the Braves organization and the other is Newcomb. With Newc being moved to the bullpen, he has been very effective. The problem is as a reliever, unless he becomes Mariano Rivera, he can never be as valuable as Simmons. They say you have to wait a few years after a trade to see who won. Im pretty sure it’s safe to call if for the Angels by now.
what do you expect? they were Angels pitching prospects after all…
What? Clevinger and Pat Corbin would like to have a word with you and thats just really recently.
Simmons was anemic with the bat in Atlanta. Honestly his stellar defense was the only thing keeping him from AAA
Even with a poor bat in Atlanta, he never put up a bWAR under 3.6 in a full season. It was a short sighted traded because “he wasn’t hitting enough”, even though his defense still made him highly valuable.
So what you’re saying is players have a period of development where they get better?
Fire sale.
Trade trout
Trade pitching
Trade what you can for best return possible.
After you already signed trout to a lifetime deal?
619 – Your baseball ignorance is showing.
He’s not going to your team so get over it.
This just in padres still suck. How are hosmer and manny working out? 3rd place in the divison thought so…
Sorry to interrupt your Hand Wringers meeting. We have good infield depth. Although Simmons is a big loss for however long the doc says, we have some good flexibility in the infield to back fill thanks to Eppler.
it is a high time to get top 5 picks in upcoming draft.
Trout will never sign an extension now.
The ankle went 60 degrees out of line when he hit the bag. As bad as it is, it looked worse watching on TV. Unless the Angels find some way to get in the race, Simmons should just take the rest of the season off and get ready for 2020.