Yoán Moncada will require surgery to address his right knee injury, reports Francys Romero. Specifics on the procedure aren’t clear, nor is it known whether Moncada is expected back this season. He’s out until at least mid-July after the Angels transferred him to the 60-day injured list this evening.
Moncada seemingly never fully recovered from the right knee issue that cost him five weeks last summer. The veteran switch-hitter said the injury most severely impacted him when he would bat from the right side. The Angels accordingly limited him to 26 plate appearances versus lefty pitching this year. That wasn’t enough to avoid an IL stint, nor apparently to stave off surgery.
This is the fifth straight season in which Moncada has missed time. He has lost over a month in each of the past four years and hasn’t reached 400 plate appearances in a season since 2022. Moncada remained a slightly above-average hitter when he was able to take the field between 2023-25. That hasn’t been the case this season, as he batted .189/.308/.297 in 130 trips before going on the shelf.
Moncada is playing his second season in Anaheim on a $4MM contract. He’ll return to free agency in November. If this procedure winds up sidelining him for most or all of the remaining 2026 schedule, he’d very likely be limited to a minor league deal next offseason.
Journeyman utility player Donovan Walton has gotten the bulk of the third base playing time over the last couple weeks. The Halos recalled 22-year-old Denzer Guzman from Triple-A this evening. He’s mashing at a .336/.403/.571 clip in the minors and is one of the better prospects in a weak farm system. Guzman is in the lineup at the hot corner tonight against Houston. That’ll be the plan for the time being, as skipper Kurt Suzuki told reporters (including Jack Janes of The Sporting Tribune) that Guzman will be the primary third baseman.
What a surprise. Still a bummer…
Bummer, I always liked the boy
Diet version of the Coke Zero that is gleybor Torres
Man the 21 White Sox core of Grandal, Abreu, Anderson,Robert and Moncada sure have all fallen off and Anderson, Robert, and Moncada aren’t even all that old.
Eloy Jimenez too
@Slightly. It was touted as one of the best young cores in the league. You can probably say the samething about the orioles. That’s why I’ll take the angels philosophy even though some people say it sucks. Definitely not great but most of the first rounders have made it to the show and are passable.
It reminds me of the early ’80s ‘dynasty. Hoyt, Burns, Dotson and Trout on the pitching side, and Baines, Kittle, Walker, Cruz and Fletcher on the hitting side. I thought they were going to be a 90+ win team for 5-6 years.
Sad, I really liked him when he was healthy. Was a natural at the hot corner and possessed elite plate discipline. Oh and even liked his foray into reggaeton with those lovely models in his music video. What might have been..
You just knew this guy wasn’t going to get better coming to the Angels.
Darn, that’s too bad. When your prospects have top value, move them for the established vet.
then trade the established vet to the Braves for a guy who barely played for the big club and was traded away after 1 season for a minor leaguer who isn’t going to sniff the big leagues any time soon, if ever.
Because Perry has a sick fettish for players that suck with ties to the braves
Sucks
But of course, Perry Minaasian signed him anyways. This is by far the most incompetent front office and Owner in baseball history. We let Shohei walk so we could sign Kikuchi. He offered the Angels the opportunity to match the same deal he made with the Dodgers. The Angels could of had a package of rookies from the Rays for Shohei that included Caminero, but of course Artie said “no”.
Troutahni
We let Shohei walk so we could sign Kikuchi.
==================
Y’all gave Kikuchi $700,000,000?
@joebrady.
Also the fact that arte couldn’t fire the gm, and would be required to spend money to make them competitive those are clauses in his contract. So that’s 3 things that Arturo wouldn’t do.
The problem was not trading Ohtani at the deadline.
@blame. The package for ohtani was going to be the same for burnes. Looking back at it wouldn’t have matter. Orioles were the front runners. also Ohtani had a blister that turned into internal brace surgery any competent team would’ve nixed the trade when they checked his medicals.
As someone who’s had 13, yes 13 knee surgeries ALL for meniscus repairs/transplants, I feel for the guy. It’s such a delicate piece of cartilage. I’m assuming that’s what this injury is. I had 10 scopes and 3 cadaver transplants and mine still isn’t fully healed yet. Putting off knee replacement because I’m only 41. Best of luck to Moncada. So much freaking potential and I’m sure he’s understandably upset.
This is not on Moncada but on Perry. Perry, I used to be on your side, but I now see you for what you are, Arte’s clown. Hey, throw 4 Million my way. I can still pick it, and I have a great arm. Not a bad hitter, though no power. I can do it!
Have the surgery in Korea. Save yourself the travel.
“How could you give up this superstar in the making for that bum Chris Sale?”
Time to call it a career. Never lived up to the hype. Boston sure won the deal sending him to the white sux for Sale. Only gonna get worse from here
No problem. Anthony Rendon can come out of retirement or Aaron Donald can unretire.
I like moncada. Oh well. What do I know. I know it’s a long season, but geez angels don’t you have some wins in coming
Yes! Some hope and optimism finally on this site for the angels! (Though undeserved 🙁 )
Just another halo give away game
Cheese, the Angels can’t even get a 2-year contract to go right.
What do you call a prince with little ability?
Nobility
Remember Moncada and his music videos, instead of him trying to get ready for the season?
These injuries would be able to overcome if only Arte had just signed a decent Closer. So many games lost because of that decision.