Injured Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons will begin a rehab assignment at the Rookie level on Tuesday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic tweets. A Grade 3 left ankle sprain has kept Simmons out of action since May 20.
Simmons will have up to 20 days to rehab, meaning he’s on track to return by early July, if not sooner. The fact that Simmons should come back within a month and a half of suffering such a serious injury is a boon to the Angels. Simmons is no doubt one of their premier players, having totaled at least 5.0 fWAR in each of the previous two seasons.
A 29-year-old defensive maven, Simmons came out of the gates this season with a .298/.323/.415 slash (100 wRC+), three home runs, five steals and 1.3 fWAR in 195 plate appearances before his ankle injury. The Angels boast the lowest strikeout rate in the game (16.9 percent) thanks in part to Simmons, who has gone down on strikes a measly 7.7 percent of the time in 2019.
Sans Simmons, the Angels have deployed David Fletcher, Zack Cozart (also now on the IL) and Wilfredo Tovar at short. Tovar has been the Angels’ full-time starter at the position since they selected him from Triple-A Salt Lake on June 7, though the ex-Met hasn’t hit during his first big league action since 2014.
The Angels, to their credit, have hung around the AL wild-card race even without Simmons. At 36-37, they sit 3 1/2 games out of a playoff spot. The club just got back another major reinforcement Monday in left fielder Justin Upton, who had missed the entire season because of a toe injury. Simmons, Fletcher, Upton, Shohei Ohtani, Kole Calhoun and Tommy La Stella, among others, should make for an impressive-looking set of complements to Mike Trout. However, that group will have to overcome a less-than-stellar pitching staff in order for the Angels to break their four-year playoff drought in 2019.
Really good news. Simmons is one of the best defensive players I’ve ever seen and his new offensive approach/success should make him an All-Star every year.
AL SS is too deep. Defense isn’t valued by the average fan so he’s always on the outside looking in
I like the way you said that and I’d say you are correct. Fans frequently dont understand the concept of RBI’s in his glove. He may be one of baseballs most underrated players.
Crapzart should be the odd man out. He cant hit, is overrated defensively. And has the worst contract on the Angels.
Did you forget Pujols?
13 million a year for a guy who can’t hi .150 and hasn’t even played half a season, between last year and this year combined. When Moustakas is making 10 million this season and wanted to play for the Angels. So yes Crapzart has the worst contract on the Angels
All is true, but it will be and should be Rengifo. .65 OPS+. He hasn’t hit a AAA, he hasn’t hit here and he has options.
Really, you have to call him names?
Cozart has hit and he’s being paid for next year. There is no way they should release him for the likes of Rengifo. Also, right now they are not talking up the same roster spot.
Tovar Hasn’t hit either, but he doesn’t have options. He’ll be released when Cozart comes back.
I didn’t say release Crapzart. But he should not take playing time away from Fletcher, Simmons, or La Stella. He should ride the pine, That is what I meant, by he should be the odd man out.
I feel the same way but please stop with the names. It’s what you hear in the 3rd grade.
LaStella should be the 3rd baseman, Fletcher the secondbaseman. Simmons the Shortstop and Cozart the utility infielder.
Simba and Trout and Ohtani…..a phenomenal team to watch and enjoy, even for us old farts….It would be nice to surround them with some complimentary pieces…….
Angels have plenty of pieces on the offensive side. La Stella, Upton, Lucroy, Fletcher ( besides his recent slumping) Calhoun… Pitching is the weakness. And unfortunately, they will never be a playoff team until they address that. When Albert is off the books they could sign two decent starters. So playoffs by 2022 is a very real possibility
I think they are coming close to addressing that. I’m more than happy to have a staff with Canning, Ohtani, Heaney and Skaggs.
Add a top of the rotation starter (local boy Cole one can hope) and that’s a very good staff.
macstruts that would be a good staff, but need to keep them healthy. Hopefully the injury bug goes away it just seems endless the last few years. I would love them to get Cole.
To reply to bbyrkett they have and are addressing pitching, they’ve been drafting arms like crazy
They have much better prospects these days to trade for good arms.
I have a bit of sympathy for the Angels and their fans. You cant help but admire Trout and Simmons is one of my favorite players since he came up with the Braves. Worst trade the Braves hqve made since Wainwright.
last year I remember him jumping in the air catching a throw and tagging a runner out while reaching down between his legs and still in the air. I would pick him over any other ss
Simmons looks like he sees an angel in the outfield
Cozart will be remembered as we remember Gary Matthews Jr., Joe Blanton, Vernon Wells, and Josh Hamilton. Lots of money and no return…