Angels News: Logan O'Hoppe Aiming for August Return From Shoulder Surgery

We could see the Halos young catcher back sooner than we expected

The Los Angeles Angels haven't had a solid catcher in quite some time. Due to that, the Angels decided to go into the 2023 season with 23-year-old rookie catcher Logan O'Hoppe. O'Hoppe got some run-in towards the end of the 2022 season and looked solid in the five games he appeared in, so they decided to give him a shot in 2023, and boy, did he not disappoint. 

O'Hoppe was among the best players on the team, and he solidified himself as the catcher of the present and future of the Halos. However, O'Hoppe suffered a torn labrum in late April that has had him sidelined, and he is scheduled to be out for four to six months. 

Angels insider Jeff Fletcher caught up with the young catcher, who is on the road with the team, and expressed his desire to return in the four-month range. 

“They told me four to six months, so why wouldn’t anyone try to come back in four?” O’Hoppe said. “That’s the mindset I have.”

The 23-year-old has not done any baseball activity but is going through rehab from his left shoulder surgery. He's been an excellent fit for the Halos and has been a sponge to the coaching staff. O'Hoppe also said he's learned so much from his time off regarding preparation and nuances of the game. 

“I’ve learned a lot,” O’Hoppe said on Monday. “We’d be here all night if we talked about everything I’ve learned… I knew it was going to help. I didn’t think it would help this much.”

This young g man takes his craft seriously, and the Angels might've found the one behind the plate. He looked like a seamless fit from the moment he came out of the dugout on Opening Day, and we can't wait to see him back on the field. 

If he can help the Angels toward to end of the season, that would be a huge plus.