Advertisement

Notes from the Angels’ camp

Share

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

The sun is once again bright -- and warm -- in Tempe, Ariz., where the Angels went through their practice routine before Friday afternoon’s Cactus League exhibition with the Chicago White Sox. Here are some of the morning’s developments:

  • Nonroster catcher Anel de los Santos’ spring training is officially over following surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb. The 22-year-old Dominican was injured when he slipped during a drill last month. The team sent him off to be examined and when an MRI showed the tear, the operation was performed. He is expected to be out at least two months.
  • Kendry Morales continues to make progress in his rehab from the broken ankle he sustained in May. The training staff has loosened the wrap on his left ankle to permit more mobility and Morales has taken part in light fielding drills. He has also been running intervals on a treadmill, wearning a harness to support some of his body weight. Morales is now running with 90% of his body weight, moving him closer to be able to run unencumbered on the field. ‘He’s virtually running full speed on the treadmill,’ Angels Manager Mike Scioscia said. ‘There’s still a process that has to take place until he’s ready to take it over to the field. But we’re getting closer to that. He’s going hard. If you watch him on the treadmill, he’s getting after it.’
  • Dutch reliever Loek Van Mil, at 7-foot-1 the tallest player in professional baseball, is also getting closer to his first game action of the spring. Van Mil threw his second bullpen session Thursday and Scioscia said he is ‘optimistic we’ll see him at some point this spring.’ Van Mil, acquired in the Brian Fuentes trade last fall, pitched just one game above Single A in his five seasons with the Twins. He has been slowed by shoulder inflammation and a bout of tendinitis in his knee during camp. ‘We definitely ... want to see his mechanics and what adjustments need to be made,’ Scioscia said. ‘He’s an interesting guy.’ Van Mil has been riding a bike to camp each morning, in part to strengthen his knee. And although the bike has a lock, Van Mil never bothers to use it, reasoning that the seat is set so high, it would be a rare thief with legs long enough to reach the pedals.
  • Hisanori Takahashi, making his first appearance this spring, is expected to be limited to one inning against the White Sox. Starter Scott Kazmir will throw 45 pitches or three innings, whichever comes first.

-- Kevin Baxter in Tempe, Ariz.

Advertisement