Angels right-hander Jack Kochanowicz told members of the media, including Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register, that he will be undergoing Tommy John surgery. He’ll be out of action until the second half of the 2027 season. He is already on the 15-day injured list and will be transferred to the 60-day IL as soon as the Angels need his roster spot.
It’s obviously a brutal blow for Kochanowicz and the Angels alike. The righty has logged 240 1/3 innings for the Halos over the past three seasons, allowing 5.88 earned runs per nine. His 13.4% strikeout rate and 9.7% walk rate aren’t great figures but he has induced grounders on 54.6% of the balls in play he has allowed. He now won’t be able to add to those totals for quite a while.
The only silver lining for Kochanowicz is that he will collect big league pay and service time for the rest of the year. He came into this season with his service clock at one year and 12 days, so he will be at 2.012 at the end of the campaign. The IL goes away in the offseason, so the Angels will have to decide whether or not to add him back to the roster for the winter.
While Kochanowicz’s number haven’t been amazing, the Angels aren’t in a great position to be losing more rotation depth. The Halos have been struggling to put together a serviceable rotation for years. The club’s starters have a collective 4.76 ERA this season, which is better than just three other clubs in the majors, a key reason why the club is in the basement of the American League with a 25-42 record. Yusei Kikuchi is sidelined with a shoulder issue and has an uncertain timeline. Now Kochanowicz won’t be a factor for the remainder of the year.
With Kochanowicz hitting the IL a few days ago due to elbow inflammation, the rotation is now down to José Soriano, Reid Detmers, Walbert Ureña and Grayson Rodriguez. Urena and Detmers are scheduled to go tonight and tomorrow. The club is then off on Thursday and may not need a fifth starter right away, but they will eventually need to fill that spot.
Sam Aldegheri has been starting in the minors and pitching long relief outings in the majors, so he could be an option, though he has an ERA over 7.00 in the minors this year. George Klassen and Caden Dana are on the 40-man roster and currently on optional assignment, so one of them could be recalled. Klassen has an ERA near 6.00 in Triple-A on the year. Dana’s 4.31 ERA doesn’t look amazing but isn’t too bad in the context of the Pacific Coast League. His 12.2% walk rate is too high but he is striking out 26% of batters faced. Alek Manoah was outrighted off the roster last month and then jumped into the Triple-A rotation but hasn’t able to get through three innings in his recent outings.
Given the state of the depth, the Halos could look to external options. Considering their place in the standings, it wouldn’t make much sense to make a headline-grabbing trade, but they could perhaps look to the waiver wire or guys with other clubs who have opt-outs or upward mobility clauses.
Photo courtesy of Rick Osentoski, Imagn Images
Geez
That escalated quickly
The pain this franchise causes man
how can you say “The pain this franchise causes man” ?
Every single MLB team has guys go down to TJ and I am willing to bet 1/2 to 3/4 of the MiLB teams as well. Just because it happned to an Angel doesn’t mean it is on them as a franchise.
I am so tired of people piling on the Angels. It is like no one is allowed to be a fan.
I get it. They are poorly run. I get it, they have a ton of loses. I get all of it trust me, but GEEEEEZ why is it they get ridiculed for something like this?
Bro, pain to FANS.
I literally defended you personally yesterday in the previous angels post.
I get it, hurt people, hurt people but put down the knife and give me a hug.
hugs to you bkbk
Feeling a bit left out now…
hug for you too my lil cowpoke
I am sorry BKBK you got the wrath of my frustraion.
I am frustrated with all of the DFA tallies, the 110 loss predictions, the name calling of the GM, etc……
AF72, been there With you since at least ’72.
I share both your opinion and BK’s.
I see both sides.
And BOTH bring ME pain in different ways to think about…
The only one in real pain is Jack himself
AngelsFan for what it’s worth my nephew was drafted out of high school by the Angels. Two TJ’s and one Thoracic and then he retired. They treated him very well. I think they get a bit unfairly criticized sometimes.
I feel bad for Silent C. He is such a gamer.
I hope he recovers soon and comes back better than ever!
All the best Jack.
You can tell some thing was up the last 2 starts. Balls we’re missing badly in the strike zone
Farewell old friend 🫡
Damn, poor guy
The Angels were really counting on this guy for their playoff run this year.
That attempt at sarcasm was just as bad as undergoing TJS
Josh. That wasn’t an attempted sarcasm. That WAS sarcasm. Sorry my comment inflicted you with pain and suffering.
If you listen to Perry talk, it was in fact not sarcasm
They both cut like a knife…
You just can’t replace his -0.6 WAR. We’re doomed!
Looking at their depth, your sarcastic remark might be true.
Well, at least this decade of losing has loaded up our farm system. Dodgers are riding high now….but the future is ours!
I honestly wish that were true for the Angels.
I think it’s time for Angels fans to boycott the team in order to each Arte a lesson
Boycotting Arte is not going to do anything to Arte. Team increases in value not matter what happens. Stay home if you want. A true Angels fan doesn’t give up when things are going bad.
The protests have been great in bringing national attention, but boycotting Arte is the only thing that will do something to Arte long term. As he likes to say, “It’s a business” to him….a business with big payroll and operating costs. Without fans, that becomes very costly. Arte needs fans a lot more than fans need Arte.
He owns the radio station AM 830 and part of AB-TV. The Angels are worth $38.8 B When Arte was exploring selling the team it was reported 3 conglomerates in Japan who were interested in the Angels. All 3 could literally write a check for $4B. One of them sent people to Anaheim to see what could be done to Angel Stadium and surrounding area to bring in more revenue. Attendance is not as big in the revenue pie as it once was.
DolemiteIsMyName: “The Angels are worth $38.8 B”
No they aren’t. Not even close.
Why are baseball franchises worth what they are worth? Because of fans. If fans get sick of the nonsense or just simply lose interest and find other things to do….then the teams are worth nothing. Moreno is pushing the limits of what fans will put up with. At some point, people will just find better things to do with their time and money.
As I said earlier… Moreno and other baseball owners need fans a lot more than fans need them.
Sorry I meant $3.8B my fault
DolemiteIsMyname: “I meant $3.8B”
Forbes has it at $2.8B.
But the point I’m trying to make is that baseball depends on fans for everything. If fans boycott or just lose interest….the fans will do just fine in their lives (some will be better off for the money they save) but baseball teams cannot survive without the fans.
Not with all the revenue streams they have now
Up until the mid 90’s other than ticket sales they only local Radio and TV and far as National ESPN either the 3 National Nteworks ABC, NBC and CBS.
Now they all have there regional networks NBC APPLE -TV. The MLB Network. Signage at the ballpark. Naming rights at the ballpark (Angels don’t) and other revenue streams that weren’t availed years ago.
I read somewhere last week it was $3.8.
Well then they’re not really big fans to begin with. I don’t think MLB has to worry about that. Every year more people attend MLB games.
DolemiteIsMyname: “Not with all the revenue streams they have now”
That doesn’t make sense. Every MLB revenue stream depends on the fans paying money for something. Fans can do just fine finding other things to do with their time. Owners can’t continue to operate without fans. Just that simple.
I think the MLB owners have become entitled as if they have something we can’t live without. If they don’t start worrying more about the fans, they will find out we can live just fine without giving them money.
DolemiteIsMyname: “I read somewhere last week it was $3.8.”
Source?
If the Padres just sold for $3.9B in a smaller market and no TV deal it’s not stretch to think the Arte could fetch a similar price.
What Else Could Go Wrong for the Angels This Year?
At this point, it feels like the baseball gods are running a comedy sketch at our expense.
Injuries piling up like clockwork.
Kurt Suzuki managing like he’s reading the lineup card upside down.
Perry Minasian still hasn’t signed one quality free agent who’s actually produced anything. Not one.
Every trade he makes feels like a dare.
And of course… the worst owner in sports, Arte Moreno a man who genuinely seems to believe winning is optional.
Now the latest punchline: Jack Kochanowicz needs Tommy John surgery. Another young arm gone. Another setback. Another reminder that lady luck has never ever blessed this franchise.
People say the Angels are cursed. At this point, cursed feels like the optimistic version.
Arte won’t sell. The front office is lost. The manager is overwhelmed. And every time you think the bottom has been reached, the floor drops again.
This isn’t a rebuild. It’s a rerun of the same nightmare.
Just remember the Angels put a good team on the field in 1982. Then they won the World Series 20 years later. I believe the future is bright. Seriously I feel your pain because I’ve been a Cubs fan for decades. It isn’t easy when you watch something fall apart right in front of your eyes year after year.
Albert will fix it all when he goes back to manage, probably coming after the lockout ends.
Hes 6-7 228 lbs. I dont think luck even deserves a mention here as this should ve been rather predictable.
Players with less mass pushing their arms and especially elbow to the extremes MLB pitching demands seems to be a recipe for disaster.
In the Angels defense having drafted him out of HS they might have anticipated him bulking up as he went through his 20s. Fast forward 7 years and him still being so lean, a major injury is not at all that surprising.
Best of luck to him in his recovery and rehab, hopefully he gets back to MLB level and can enjoy multiple healthy seasons.
Let Sam pitch!
He doesn’t have the arsenal or mechanics. He’s exactly where he should be.
I actually think Bachman should move in as team closer. He’s been their most consistent reliever this season.
I agree – he doesn’t have what it takes to succeed as a starting pitcher. But then again, that was the report on him going into the draft. Only the Angels (Perry Minasian) thought they knew better.
I have zero issue with Bachman getting a chance to close.
Turning Bachman into an adequate closer might be the Angels’ only saving grace for having drafted him so high.
@Orange I have been thinking that myself a while now. Natera looks like he could be a decent bullpen piece as well. Also, bring up Luke Murphy. He can’t be any worse than some of the other guys in this bullpen
If Suzuki could stop insisting on making the same errors with the bullpen the Angels might not lose 100 games.
I remember when Dana was a decent prospect. Only the Angels could mess him up.
Dana never really was. He got to 78, but never had the stuff to be anything but a back end of the rotation starter.
He didn’t even sniff baseball prospectus top prospects. Who I consider the best.
BP has Bremner at 79. No one has Klassen in the top 100.
We are not in good shape.
@Halo Fangraphs has Klassen at #76 of their top 100. I am not sure why. Maybe if he was on a different team, he could develop his raw talent.
This is probably a blessing in disguise, considering how poorly K has been pitching, but who the fffffffff do we replace him with? Aldegherri isn’t ready yet. Dana isn’t ready. Urena is a huge surprise, but I don’t think there are any more of those in the minors right now.
I’ll be going to two games this year, I don’t care one iota what people say about “boycotting.” I’m there to support the team and the players – the front office can eat itself. I’ll be chanting “sell the team” along with everyone else.
I really do believe Arte screwed up so many players with his lack of interest in having any sort of development plan for anyone.
I forgot about Klassen, but throw him in the “not ready yet” bin, as well.
Seriously Tommy John should be in HOF for his naming of the most popular surgery in baseball.
He was a good pitcher during his time with various teams before K:BB meant something to stat line.
It should be Frank Jobe the surgeon who came up with the idea of transplanting ligaments .
Would this guy even be on any other team’s roster? He’s terrible.
Well the author of this article doesn’t think so or his uncle invented analytics….his ERA is 5.88 per 9, but he has a 13.4% strike out rate (when the entire league is swinging from their heels and strikeouts abound) but he gets ground balls….that most of which get through……
He used his sinker like 75% of the time in 2024. After that he had a more balanced pitch mix which coincides with him pitching terribly.
I feel bad for the guy, but the Angels have been protected from themselves. No other team would have given him ten starts over the last two years let alone 36.
I’m no fan of Kochanowicz and was going crazy last season every time they kept running him out every 5th game. I’ll admit that he looked much better this season and showed some promise as a potential 5th starter.
His ‘26 stats look a lot worse than how he’d been pitching after his past three starts or so (especially his final start), which now makes sense due to the elbow inflammation leading to TJ surgery.
angels avreaging about 5 runs a game some good batters but bad pitching also around 5 runs per game,maybe trade trout for a ptcher he is starting to diminish. starting to look his age.
Sorry to break the news to you, but Mike Trout is never leaving the Angels.
@ Nah No team would want Trout. Loved by Angel fans. Trout loves Angel fans.signs tons of autograph. No one has ever said a bad thing about him. Still an excellent CF. Loyal to his team and the fans. Plays baseball in the best weather possible. Best to keep him in Anaheim
Hello either Dana or Klassen…..Bremner next year please.
Jack knifed. Rolled out 6 consecutive solid starts in the beginning of the year. Had a feeling something wasn’t right. Dana looking good
Pumping 98 out of nowhere to start the season, not terribly surprising. Jack was never a serious starting pitcher anyway. Best wishes for the person though.