ATLANTA -- Angels second baseman Christian Moore was placed on the 10-day injured list on Thursday after spraining his left thumb against the Braves on Wednesday.
Moore exited Wednesday's game in the top of the six inning after attempting a diving catch on a ground ball up the middle. Moore’s thumb bent back awkwardly on the play, which took place on the lip of the outfield grass.
“It’s a pretty good sprain on the left thumb,” Moore said. “Obviously I was trying to make a play up the middle on that ball. I kind of fell over the thumb a little bit and rolled the wrist a little bit. [I’m] pretty sore. I’m gonna get some more treatment on it today and tomorrow and try to get back out there.”
There is no timetable on Moore’s return, but he hopes to be back in at least two weeks.
“It’s pretty much up to my body and how it heals itself,” Moore said. “Hopefully I can be out there in two weeks. If I can get out there quicker, obviously we can do some things with the glove and put something in there. I’m hoping [for] a week or two.”
“I wouldn’t put a timetable on it,” said interim manager Ray Montgomery. “Those things can be tricky, just the nature of the injury. He’s young, he’s encouraged by the non-surgical piece. I’m thinking he’s looking at best-case scenario.”
Moore was relieved he didn’t tear a ligament or suffer an injury that would requite surgery.
“That was great news to hear,” Moore said. “The quicker I can get out there with these guys. … I just want to help this team win. It was definitely a relief.”
The Angels had an open spot on their 40-man roster from when they designated right-handed pitcher Héctor Neris for assignment, so in a corresponding move to Moore’s IL placement, Los Angeles selected Chad Stevens’ contract from Triple-A Salt Lake.
Stevens, who was drafted by the Padres in the 40th round of the 2017 Draft, went 0-for-4 in his MLB debut, playing second and batting ninth for the Angels on Thursday.
Stevens was pulled in the middle of the second inning of Salt Lake’s game at Tacoma on Wednesday and he subsequently got the call.
“At first I was a little unsure what was going on,” Stevens said. “They sent Yolmer Sánchez out to get me in the infield, and when he came up to give me a hug, I kind of knew what was going on. It’s awesome to be here. We were playing in Tacoma -- I’m from out there. It couldn’t have been a better spot.”
Stevens, who is 26, had little time to celebrate as he had to make an overnight flight from Tacoma to Atlanta.
“My parents were in the stands,” Stevens said. “I got the call, I got the flight that night. They ran home and grabbed my suitcase. I made some calls to the family and a couple of friends. I packed my stuff, they took me to the airport and now I’m here.”
Stevens has a .307 batting average and a .925 OPS with 14 home runs and 43 RBIs in 72 games (264 at-bats) with Salt Lake this season.