ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Earlier this afternoon, the Angels announced a few roster shakeups, as well as updates on players working their way back from injury.
Chris Taylor headed to the 10 day IL
After signing with the Angels on May 26, Chris Taylor has quickly become a regular in the Angels lineup.
Before today's game, the Angels announced that Taylor would be headed to the 10-day injured list for a left-hand fracture.
In the 8th inning of yesterday's game against the Athletics, Taylor was hit by a pitch. Washington and the Angels' medical staff came out on the field to evaluate him, but he passed all tests and finished out the game.
"He didn't have that feeling that it was broken because they tested him and he did everything," Angels manager Ron Washington said. "Let's just see how tough he is because when they tested him at the plate, everything was normal and he's a gamer."
Manager Ron Washington has no timetable for Taylor’s return and sounded like a return to the lineup will not be anytime soon.
Before joining the Angels, Taylor was designated for assignment by the Los Angeles Dodgers after struggling at the plate with a .200 batting average.
Taylor has a .200 average with the Angels as well, but was looking like he was starting to heat up after having back-to-back multi-hit performances on Friday and Saturday.
"He's not feeling very good about. He's just been in some bad luck, you know, and it just keeps happening," Washington said. "Now all he can do is get well."
LaMonte Wade Jr. Activated today
Just after Sunday’s game against the Mariners, the Angels announced that they have traded for LaMonte Wade Jr.
Wade Jr. will not be in the starting lineup tonight but is available to play if needed.
On Monday, Washington said that Wade Jr. will primarily play in the corner outfield for now. With the Giants this season, he’s played 45 games at first base.
"He's a first baseman by trade, but he's played in the corners," Washington said in today's media scrum. "So I'm trying to get him some work in the outfield and hopefully I can get him a game soon."
Jorge Soler back in the lineup
Jorge Soler is back in the lineup and will be hitting fifth and playing in right field tonight for the Angels after exiting Saturday's game due to a groin injury.
Prior to Saturday's game, Soler also exited Wednesday's game against the Red Sox with a groin injury as well. With Taylor out of the lineup and Mike Trout primarily playing at DH, Washington sounded hopeful to get Wade Jr. up to speed so he can spend time in the outfield as well.
Mike Trout's Return to the outfield put on pause
Since coming back to the lineup on May 10, Trout has been back to doing what he does best and that's play baseball.
But since he's been back, he has not seen any time in the outfield and has been reserved as the team's designated hitter.
Washington said that Trout has felt some soreness in his knee and that the team is on his terms right now in regards to a return back in the outfield.
"The plan is we're on Mike's term. With what he has and he goes out there playing at night, running the bases. He comes up with some soreness," Washington said. "We got to monitor that soreness. When he feels like he's sore we're not going to put any extra work on him."
"So right now he feels some soreness so we backed off a minute."
Gustavo Campero starting rehab assignment in Triple-A
Another option to help the Angels in the outfield is outfielder Gustavo Campero, who has been out due to left ankle inflammation.
Campero was called up from Triple-A Salt Lake on April 29, and was played in five games with the Angels before his injury.
During that short stretch, he had an on-base percentage of .333 with two hits and two walks.
Campero's is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment in Salt Lake tonight. After his rehab is over, he could be another platoon option for the Angels.