MILWAUKEE -- The Angels have been hit hard by injuries in recent weeks and it only got worse on Wednesday, when right-hander José Soriano was hit by a line drive from Jake Bauers in his ribcage area and was forced to leave in the second inning of Los Angeles' bout with the Brewers at American Family Field.
With two on and one out, Soriano delivered a 98 mph sinker at the bottom of the zone and Bauers ripped it back at Soriano with an exit velocity of 107.4 mph. It hit off Soriano for a single to load the bases and left the Angels right-hander grimacing in pain.
Soriano was visited at the mound by interim manager Ray Montgomery and head athletic trainer Mike Frostad, and he left the game on his own accord. He even smiled at one point as he was being examined. But he exited with what the Angels are calling a right forearm contusion and was replaced by reliever Connor Brogdon, who allowed all three inherited runners to score.
Soriano underwent X-rays after departing, which came back negative.
Soriano, 26, has been one of the club’s best players this season, posting a 4.26 ERA in a career-high 31 starts. He has the highest ground-ball rate in the Majors among all starters (65.4%) and came into his start with the sixth-lowest road ERA (2.66) in the big leagues among starters.
The Angels' rotation is already thin, as they’re relying on rookies Caden Dana and Mitch Farris with Tyler Anderson on the injured list and Jack Kochanowicz in Triple-A Salt Lake. Soriano was expected to make two more starts this season, but it’s unclear if he’ll be able to pitch again this year.