Newly Acquired Angels Reliever Seems To Have Avoided Significant Injury

It sounds like Los Angeles won't be missing its reliever for long

The Los Angeles Angels recently got some not-so-great news.

Los Angeles hasn't made massive splashes in free agency but has improved the bullpen. The Angels' top free agent signing was reliever Robert Stephenson after he spent the 2023 campaign with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Tampa Bay Rays.

However, it's unclear when he will next see action in a Spring Training game as he's been dealing with shoulder soreness. 

Los Angeles has already been dealing with a plethora of injuries and Stephenson is the latest to be added to the list. While it's disappointing that Stephenson is dealing with the shoulder injury, it at least sounds like it won't be long-term, according to The Athletic's Sam Blum. 

"Robert Stephenson isn’t overly concerned with his shoulder soreness and played catch yesterday," Blum said. "He was, however, uncertain about getting enough games in to be ready for Opening Day. He thinks he’ll be pitching in spring games at some point."

Stephenson is expected to be an important part of Los Angeles' bullpen in 2024. The veteran righty has a career 4.64 ERA in 271 total appearances throughout his eight-year big league career.

The 31-year-old was selected in the first round of the 2011 Major League Baseball June Amateur Draft by the Cincinnati Reds and eventually made his big league debut with the club in 2016.

Stephenson spent the first five seasons of his career with the Reds and has spent time with the Colorado Rockies, Pirates, and Rays ever since.