The Los Angeles Angels received an unfortunate update on star outfielder Mike Trout, who will go on the 10-day Injured List after suffering a left hamate fracture in Monday’s game. Things only got worse in Tuesday’s matchup against the San Diego Padres, as they lost two more star players to injury, including Shohei Ohtani.
Ohtani took the mound for Tuesday’s game, and things were largely going as planned until the bottom of the sixth inning.
He ran into trouble in the inning, allowing back-to-back home runs to Padres stars Jake Cronenworth and Xander Bogaerts.
eXplosive 🧨 #BringTheGold pic.twitter.com/x1eIdi3Dw4
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) July 5, 2023
Spending #FourthofJuly in the Crone Zone 😎 #BringTheGold pic.twitter.com/zUGycWhE4P
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) July 5, 2023
Ohtani was then in some discomfort after Cronenworth’s blast, prompting the Angels training staff to come and take a look at him. He ended up exiting the game prematurely after only 86 pitches.
Rough day to be an Angels fan, as Shohei Ohtani prematurely exits his start with a right middle finger blister just hours after Mike Trout was put on the IL. 😬pic.twitter.com/pc7ft6rjju
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) July 5, 2023
Ohtani was also in the game as their designated hitter, and was removed from the game offensively as well.
This came after Anthony Rendon left the game in the top of the fourth inning after fouling a ball off his leg.
Here's video of Anthony Rendon fouling the ball off his leg. He just left the game. pic.twitter.com/ctEngtB2od
— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) July 4, 2023
These three injuries including Trout’s are obviously very concerning, as 44 percent of their 40-man payroll is now dealing with an injury.
Since the top of the 8th inning yesterday, the Angels have seen 44% of their 40-man payroll leave the game with injuries.
Mike Trout: $35.5M
Anthony Rendon: $35M
Shohei Ohtani: $30M https://t.co/letl6BwbSI— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) July 5, 2023
The MLB world took to social media to react to this string of back luck for the Angels in recent days.
11:45 am: Angels announce Mike Trout fractured the hamate bone in his left hand.
4:40 pm: Anthony Rendon fouls a ball off his leg and leaves the game.
5:30 pm: Shohei Ohtani exits the mound with a trainer.
Oh my.
— Alden González (@Alden_Gonzalez) July 5, 2023
The Los Angeles Angels have now lost Shohei Ohtani, Mike Trout, and Anthony Rendon to injury since yesterday. 🤕 pic.twitter.com/zbXCJ3HnKM
— Odds Shark (@OddsShark) July 5, 2023
https://twitter.com/_JacobCisneros/status/1676387851808931840
I legitimately feel bad for Angels fans. I also feel bad for baseball fans. Those injuries suck.
— Randy Wilkins (@pamsson) July 5, 2023
Ohtani is exiting.
He joins Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon as #Angels who've left with injuries so far this series.
— Jeff Sanders (@sdutSanders) July 5, 2023
[Angels near playoff spot]
– Mike Trout hamate fracture
– Anthony Rendon fouls ball off leg, exits gameHave we considered that actual celestial beings are upset at the Anaheim baseball team for co-opting their name, and are committing acts of supernatural subterfuge as protest?
— Levi Weaver (@ThreeTwoEephus) July 4, 2023
This may seem like a worst-case scenario for the Angels, but there is somewhat of a silver lining on both Ohtani’s and Rendon’s injury reports.
Anthony Rendon was diagnosed with a left shin contusion after X-rays on his leg came back negative, and Ohtani was diagnosed with a right middle finger blister. Both injuries could result in some missed games, but aren’t exactly seen as long-term issues.
Anthony Rendon has a left shin contusion, X-rays negative.
Shohei Ohtani has a right middle finger blister (that's the same finger that had the cracked nail)
— Jeff Fletcher (@JeffFletcherOCR) July 5, 2023
Regardless, it has to be demoralizing to lose three impact players to injury in the span of 24 hours.
