ANAHEIM – A day after being taken out of the game because of soreness in his right knee, Logan O’Hoppe was back directly behind the plate and in center field in the Angels’ lineup.
This should come as no surprise to anyone who followed O’Hoppe’s early career.
O’Hoppe said Tuesday that his knee felt “fine walking around, no pain or anything going up stairs.” He also said he had not undergone any further tests.
And he has no plans to change his style of play to ensure his knee doesn’t become a problem.
“As far as the field goes, nothing is going to change,” O’Hoppe said. “When I’m out there, I’m not going to back down. When I’m out there, I’m going to give it everything I’ve got. People say that’s not smart, but I really don’t care. I’d rather not be here than not give it everything I’ve got.”
O’Hoppe said he could “make it here,” referring to the work in the gym and training room.
O’Hoppe, 24, has caught more innings than anyone in the major leagues. Tuesday night was his 98th catch in 120 games. In June, he said his goal was to catch 150 games in a season. Brad Ausmus caught 150 games in 2000, and no one has done that since.
Manager Ron Washington said he’s learned there are times when he doesn’t even bother to ask O’Hoppe if he needs a day off.
“Just give him time off,” Washington said. “I don’t care how he feels or what’s going on. Sometimes with kids like that, you have to make decisions for them because when you talk to him, he thinks he should be there every day, no matter how he feels.”
PITCHING MOVEMENTS
The Angels have been one reliever short since they named Jack Kochanowicz the sixth starter to fill the void created by last week’s doubleheader. They corrected that by putting right-hander Davis Daniel in the field, meaning Kochanowicz passed Daniel for the fifth spot.
Kochanowicz, 23, pitched a shutout until the eighth inning on Sunday in Washington, allowing two runs in 7⅔ innings, much better than in his first two starts, when he allowed 12 runs.
Daniel, 27, has also pitched at both ends of the spectrum, allowing one run in 13 innings in his two best starts, but allowing 20 earned runs in 17⅓ innings in his other four starts.
Daniel was replaced on the roster by left-hander Kenny Rosenberg. He started one game this season but was used primarily as a long reliever.
The Angels could take another step on Wednesday when left-hander Brock Burke is added to the active roster. The Angels acquired Burke on waivers from the Texas Rangers on Tuesday.
Burke, 28, has a 9.22 ERA in 13⅔ innings with the Rangers this season. He had a 1.97 ERA in 82⅓ innings with the Rangers in 2022, and that rose to 4.37 last year.
The Angels also signed right-hander Nick Robertson from the St. Louis Cardinals and sent him to Triple-A.
Robertson, 26, had a 4.38 ERA in 12⅓ innings with the Cardinals this season. He also had a 7.48 ERA in Triple-A.
Robertson has a 5.45 ERA in his major league career, but his most promising performance came last season in Triple-A with the Dodgers. He had a 2.54 ERA in 28⅓ innings with 42 strikeouts.
NOTES
The Angels released left-handers Amir Garrett and Adam Kolarek, who had previously played at Triple-A. The Angels signed Garrett to a minor league contract at the start of the season, and he pitched 5⅓ innings at the major league level. At Triple-A, he had a 5.08 ERA. Kolarek signed a major league contract last winter and never pitched at the major league level with the Angels. At Salt Lake, he had a 6.97 ERA. …
The Angels signed veteran right-hander Corey Knebel to a minor league contract and sent him to Triple-A. Knebel has not pitched in the major leagues since 2022. This season, he had a 5.91 ERA in the Chicago White Sox farm system. …
Right fielder Jo Adell, who prevented a home run on Monday night, leads all major league right fielders with nine defensive runs saved.
Next
Blue Jays (RHP José Berrios, 10-9, 3.97 ERA) at Angels (LHP Tyler Anderson, 9-10, 2.99), Wednesday, 6:38 p.m., Bally Sports West, 8:30 a.m.
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