Maicer Izturis placed on disabled list for third time this season
The Angels placed Maicer Izturis (inflamed right shoulder) on the 15-day disabled list for the third time this season Sunday, fueling more concerns about the utility infielder’s durability and reliability.
Izturis, who was injured diving for a hit Thursday night, had a career year in 2009, batting .300 with eight home runs, 65 runs batted in and 74 runs in 114 games. The Angels deemed him so valuable they gave him a three-year, $10-million contract.
The switch-hitter avoided the DL in 2009 after being sidelined with six different injuries from 2005 to 2008, but now the “Fragile: Handle With Care” label is back.
Izturis missed three weeks in May because of an inflamed right shoulder, and a month in June and July because of a strained left forearm. An MRI test this weekend revealed an injury that will probably sideline him for at least three more weeks.
“It’s unfortunate,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “Izzy is an important piece that we really haven’t had in the flow this year because he’s banged up.”
Izturis had one hot streak from Aug. 4 to 11, batting .438 (14 for 32), but has otherwise been ordinary, hitting .245 with three homers, 25 RBIs and 26 runs in 56 games.
His strength, as usual, is hitting with runners in scoring position (.294).
With Izturis out, Howie Kendrick will return to second base on a full-time basis — he has been shuffling between second and first — and Mike Napoli, who also catches, will be anchored at first base.
And Izturis’ future becomes a little more cloudy.
Frequent flier
It was a whirlwind weekend for new reliever Jordan Walden, who was called up from triple-A Salt Lake on Sunday.
Walden flew from Memphis to Salt Lake after a game Friday, arriving at 4 a.m. Salt Lake time on Saturday. After a night game Saturday, Walden flew from Salt Lake to Minneapolis on Sunday morning. He returned to Orange County with the Angels after Sunday night’s game.
For those scoring at home, that’s about 4,650 air miles on three flights, each landing in a different time zone, in about 2½ days.
Jepsen returns
Kevin Jepsen was back in the Angels’ bullpen Sunday after missing Saturday’s game because of a throat infection.
Jepsen woke up Friday with a sore throat, body aches and a fever. He was in the bullpen but did not pitch Friday night.
He felt so ill Saturday that he returned to the team hotel before the game.
But Jepsen, who is on antibiotics, said he was able to eat breakfast Sunday morning, his first meal in two days, and that he was available to pitch Sunday night against the Twins.
mike.digiovanna@latimes.com
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