Robert Stephenson Exits Rehab Assignment After Four Pitches

The Los Angeles Angels are still anxiously awaiting the debut of their marquee free agent signing this offseason — reliever Robert Stephenson — after being placed on the injured list. Stephenson did not pitch in Spring Training as he was dealing with shoulder soreness, and was placed on the IL to begin the 2024 season. Everything was looking right for him to gear up to a return, until he took the field for the Salt Lake Bees on Saturday.

Stephenson issued a four-pitch walk against his first batter for the Angels’ Triple-A affiliate, then called for a trainer and was removed from the game. It’s not a good sign for the pitcher who signed a three-year, $33 million contract with the Angels in the offseason and was facing hitters in Anaheim as recently as last week.

His latest MRI revealed only shoulder inflammation, but Angels manager Ron Washington wouldn’t give any further details on what has gone on since his removal on Saturday, according to Jeff Fletcher of The O.C. Register:

“We’re going to get him examined,” manager Ron Washington said on Sunday morning. “I don’t have any more than that.”

Stephenson figured to be the primary set-up option in the Angels bullpen for closer Carlos Estévez. He was the biggest signing of the offseason for the Halos as part of an attempt to completely revamp the bullpen, as they pinpointed that as their biggest area of need after last season.

The Angels bullpen has performed admirably, as they have not yet blown a lead in 15 games this season.

Angels reliever/starter Jose Soriano suffered bad luck in first start

Jose Soriano spent Spring Training getting built up as a starting pitcher. But with the Angels already having a full five-man rotation, they had to make a decision with regard to Soriano’s role to begin the 2024. They opted to make him a multi-inning reliever, but it took only 12 games for him to make his first start of the season with an injury to Chase Silseth. Matt Thaiss, the backup to Logan O’Hoppe behind the plate, caught his first start.

A pure look at the numbers would say Soriano struggled in his first start of the season against the Tampa Bay Rays. In four innings, he gave up four earned runs on six hits with six strikeouts. Three of those runs came in the first inning, two scoring on a wild pitch and one on a sacrifice fly. Two of the three hits Soriano allowed in the first frame had an expected batting average of under .270.

So as Thaiss reflected on Soriano’s first big league start of 2024, he focused on the positive and remained confident in what the young starter can do