ANAHEIM -- The Angels’ veteran depth took a major hit on Saturday, as both outfielder Jorge Soler and utilityman Chris Taylor were placed on the 10-day injured list before their 7-2 loss to the Mariners. Infielder Scott Kingery and outfielder Gustavo Campero were recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake to take their places.
Soler had been out since leaving Wednesday’s game with back stiffness and underwent further testing that revealed low back inflammation. Taylor, meanwhile, re-fractured his left hand making a sliding catch in the seventh inning on Friday. He had originally fractured his hand after being hit by a pitch on June 9 and returned on Monday, only to break the same hand.
To make matters worse, third baseman Yoán Moncada had to leave Saturday’s game in the seventh after being hit on the right hand by a pitch but X-rays came back negative and he’s day to day.
It’s tough timing for the Angels, especially with the Trade Deadline looming on Thursday. Soler and Taylor weren’t considered trade candidates, but the Angels seem likely to sell and could move others like closer Kenley Jansen, infielders Luis Rengifo and Moncada, left-hander Tyler Anderson and possibly outfielder Taylor Ward. They entered Saturday’s game 5 1/2 games out of the final AL Wild Card spot.
"There is no good timing to lose those guys,” interim manager Ray Montgomery said. “When Soler is right, he’s in the middle of the order helping us. But the guys, they know, they’ve been doing it all year. Somebody is going to be the next man to step up. Campy and King are here now and they will contribute every way they can, too.”
Soler, who was acquired in the offseason in a trade with the Braves that sent right-hander Griffin Canning to Atlanta, also dealt with the same injury just a month ago, as he missed 13 games with lower back inflammation from June 18 until returning on July 1. Soler said he’s not sure how much time he’ll miss this time, adding that he believes his body has had a tough time adjusting to playing so much right field.
Soler was brought in to mostly serve as designated hitter, but with Mike Trout serving as DH as he recovers from his bone bruise in his left knee, Soler has been forced to play right field more regularly. Soler has played 40 games in the outfield this year after playing 46 last year and 32 in '23.
"I mean, I haven't played in the outfield for a while for years,” Soler said through interpreter Manny Del Campo. “And then coming here and playing it, it's tough.”
Soler, 33, has hit .215/.293/.387 with 12 homers and 34 RBIs in 82 games but had been faring better in July, hitting .262 with four homers and eight RBIs in 15 games. With Soler out, the Angels will use a combination of LaMonte Wade Jr. and Campero in right field. Trout is still doing pregame work in right field, but it’s coming along slowly.
"It’s frustrating for me because I haven't performed well,” Soler said. “And I need to play to perform. And it's kind of frustrating to me because I want to play to put up some good numbers, and so far the injury issues haven't let me play enough.”
It was an especially tough break for Taylor, who missed six weeks with his initial hand fracture and is expected to miss roughly the same amount of time with this injury. It means he’s not likely to return until mid-September. He's hit .189 with a homer and four RBis in 15 games since signing with the Angels as a free agent on May 26 after being released by the Dodgers. He said he was fully healthy but that it was just a freak thing that he reinjured his hand.
"It's really frustrating,” Taylor said. “Obviously, it's hard being on the IL and I felt like I've been working really hard to get back as soon as I can. And then it was finally good to be back on the field again. So for it to be back in the same situation I was a month and a half ago, it’s frustrating, but that's part of the game. Can't really do anything but keep going forward. At least it looks like hopefully I'll be back in September and then I’ll get to have an opportunity to finish the year strong.”