ANAHEIM — Taylor Ward knew he was going to be in a for a weird experience, even before stepping on the field at Angel Stadium.
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Ward played the first 704 games of his major league career with the Angels. He was traded to the Baltimore Orioles in November, making this week’s series something of a homecoming.
“I haven’t been out there yet, but once I do I’m sure it’s going to bring back so many memories of everything I did here and the time I had here,” Ward said before Monday’s game. “It was great. It should be fun tonight.”
Ward had never been in the visiting team’s clubhouse at Angel Stadium, and he expected even the view from the opposing dugout would be strange.
He said he was shocked when he first heard of the deal.
“As I thought more of it and looked more into the team, I was getting really excited to report to spring training and meet the guys and just help the team win over there,” Ward said. “It’s been great. The guys have been just as great as the guys over there (the Angels).”
Ward came into the series hitting .255 with a .748 OPS. He had hit only four home runs through Sunday, certainly feeling the impact of the left field fence in Baltimore being deeper than in Anaheim.
RODRIGUEZ UPDATE
Right-hander Grayson Rodriguez, the other half of the Ward trade, will miss the series against his former team because he’s on the injured list with lower back inflammation. He nonetheless said he’s feeling good about his recovery after one week.
Rodriguez said he threw “a short bullpen” and he’s planning to throw from the mound again on Tuesday. He has continued throwing throughout the week he’s been on the injured list.
“A lot better,” Rodriguez said. “Just going day by day. Feels so much better than it did a week ago. Definitely going in the right direction with that.”
Rodriguez has been on the IL twice this season, and both times he’s barely taken a break from throwing. That suggests that the injuries weren’t that serious, but the Angels were trying to be extra cautious with a player who has missed so much time with injuries.
“I guess just trying to make sure that nothing severe happens,” Rodriguez said. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been activated, or been active, so just trying to make sure we can keep all this stuff under control.”
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Rodriguez pitched 116⅔ innings in the majors in 2024, and then none in 2025. He’s already thrown 25⅔ in six starts this season. The Angels, who have Rodriguez under control for three more seasons after this one, likely want to rebuild him slowly after last year.
SOLER IS BACK
DH/outfielder Jorge Soler returned to the lineup after missing 16 games with a left oblique strain.
Soler did not go on a rehab assignment or even face any live pitching. Manager Kurt Suzuki said Soler did some “enhanced BP,” in which he didn’t know what pitches were coming.
“It’s a good stabilizing force in the cleanup spot, having Georgie back in the lineup,” Suzuki said. “Obviously with the experience, the power, the type of hitter he is. It’s nice to have a veteran presence in the lineup. With Mike (Trout) out, that’s a good thing to have.”
The Angels designated Nick Madrigal for assignment to open a spot for Soler. Madrigal hit .273 with a .680 OPS in 15 games with the Angels. He could still remain in the organization if he clears waivers.
NOTES
Christian Moore was not in the starting lineup on Monday. He was in the lineup three times in his first five games in the majors this season. “He’s going to play,” Suzuki said. “He’s going to move around. Obviously, he played some left field in Salt Lake and second base. We all know that. Maybe some third base. We’ll try to do our best to to put him in situations to succeed, but also he’s not going to sit for three, four days in a row. The guy’s going to play.” …
Left-hander Yusei Kikuchi (shoulder inflammation) did some throwing on flat ground in the outfield. Kikuchi said his plan is to throw a bullpen session in 10 to 14 days and face hitters around the All-Star break. …
First baseman Trey Mancini elected free agency. The Angels designated him for assignment last week. If Mancini doesn’t find a better offer, he still could return to the Angels on a minor-league deal, though.
UP NEXT
Orioles (RHP Shane Baz, 4-7, 4.04 ERA) at Angels (RHP Ryan Johnson, 0-2, 12.83 ERA), Tuesday, 6:38 p.m., ABTV, 830 AM
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