ANAHEIM — After struggling with ankle inflammation for most of the season, first baseman Nolan Schanuel was feeling upbeat after making notable progress in his rehab on Monday.
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Schanuel, who has been on the injured list retroactive to May 24 and eligible to return on Wednesday, ran in the outfield before Monday’s game against the Colorado Rockies and performed a fielding drill that required lateral movement.
“Doing good,” Schanuel said with a grin. “Getting there.”
Schanuel had been playing through ankle soreness since early April but still managed to hit .262 with four home runs through his first 49 games. But his strikeout percentage was at 15.9%, after he finished last season at 12.6%.
The injury flared up on Schanuel on May 23, and he was diagnosed with tendonitis last Thursday.
“From what he’s saying, he said he’s feeling better,” Manager Kurt Suzuki said. “So, when he runs, we’ll kind of tell where he’s at.”
Not only were running drills a key test, so were the fielding drills.
“I think so,” Suzuki said. “I think if you can run, you can probably field ground balls and stuff. I think that’s the biggest thing.”
Schanuel estimated that he might be ready to return by Friday’s series opener against the Dodgers.
Vaughn Grissom has been playing first base in Schanuel’s absence and was batting .333 with a home run, two doubles and 11 RBIs over the past six games.
“On the road, obviously, he was able to get some to fall in the outfield. Big hits too, especially that (three-hit) game in Detroit,” Suzuki said. “But I feel like, man, every time he goes up there, he puts up a quality at-bat. So, I like where he’s at.”
Grissom started in 30 of the Angels’ first 60 games before starting the last eight at first base.
“You don’t want to over abuse them because you go from playing sparingly to playing every day, so you got to kind of watch them,” Suzuki said. “I checked with him the other day. He said he feels good. He just loves to play.”
SHORT NOTICE
Shortstop Zach Neto was a late scratch for Monday’s series opener against the Rockies as he continued to deal with what is characterized as “whiplash” following a collision at home plate on Saturday against Tampa Bay.
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Neto tried to score on a wild pitch and slid into home plate as Rays pitcher Ian Seymour landed on him while trying to make a tag. Neto was ruled safe with one of the Angels’ 14 runs in their easy victory.
Neto left Saturday’s game in the seventh inning but returned to play against the Rays on Sunday and went 0 for 4.
Neto’s scratch meant that none of the Angels’ Opening Day infielders were either on the field on Monday or at the positions they played during the season opener. Schanuel and third baseman Yoan Moncada are on the injured list, while Opening Day second baseman Oswald Peraza moved to shortstop against the Rockies.
Nick Madrigal was a late addition to the lineup, playing second base and batting ninth.
MAKING PROGRESS
Left-hander Yusei Kikuchi, who has been on the injured list since May 3 with shoulder inflammation, is expected to do some light throwing this week, longtime Japanese radio correspondent Koji Bonkobara reported Monday.
So far, Kikuchi has only progressed to running and weightlifting in his rehab. As of now, the expectation remains that Kikuchi will be able to return at some point during the second half of the season.
A more intense throwing program, which includes bullpen sessions, still could be a month away.
“Obviously, we’re a better team with him,” Suzuki said. “So, you know, hoping everything goes as planned, and he can come back and help us this year.”
ALSO
Moncada was participating in fielding drills on Monday as he deals with the same right inflammation that bothered him last season. He has been on the IL since May 22. “Hopefully, he’s feeling better,” Suzuki said. “The rest kind of helped him.” … Catcher Travis d’Arnaud is making slow progress from a bout of plantar fasciitis but has been mobile while in a walking boot. He is not expected to return before mid-July.
UP NEXT
Rockies (RHP Tomoyuki Sugano, 4-4, 4.01 ERA) at Angels (RHP Grayson Rodriguez, 2-1, 7.53 ERA), Tuesday, 6:38 p.m., ABTV, 570 AM, 1330 AM
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