ANAHEIM, Calif — Angels pitcher Patrick Sandoval revealed Monday that he suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament and a high-grade flexor tear in his throwing elbow.
Sandoval will undergo surgery and said he is unclear about the details of the procedure. Typically a pitcher has Tommy John surgery after suffering a torn UCL which would potentially sideline Sandoval for the remainder of this season as well as the 2025 season.
“It sucks,” Sandoval said. “There’s no other way to put it. I love being out on the field. I love playing. It’s just unfortunate.”
Patrick Sandoval has a high grade flexor tear and a torn UCL. He will undergo Tommy John Surgery soon. @SportingTrib @TaylorBlakeWard #Angels #ReptheHalo pic.twitter.com/eL4DLmmxAp
— Michael Huntley (@mikehuntley63) June 24, 2024
Sandoval left his start Friday against the Dodgers in the third inning in what was then announced as a forearm strain. On Saturday, the team placed him on the injured list with an elbow strain.
“You never really anticipate that kind of injury, but you’re aware of how common it is in the game, especially at this high level with how hard guys throw,” Sandoval said. “It’s a long recovery process. It sucks, obviously, but I’m going to come back stronger.”
A flevor tear occurs when the flexor mass tendon pulls away from the elbow bone. It is not clear when the surgery will take place or if it will be a total reconstruction of the elbow, or require the placement of an internal brace.
Sandoval had a 5.08 ERA in 16 starts this year including 81 strikeouts in 79.2 innings. He is arbitration-eligible for the next two seasons but won't hit free agency until after the 2026 season.
The Angels need a starter to replace Sandoval's spot in the rotation Wednesday against the Oakland A's. Angels manager Ron Washington said it is undecided who will start Wednesday.
"It's tough for everyone, especially him because he was starting to really compete," Washington said. "I just told him the best of luck, and I loved him."
Washington told reporters that Chase Silseth and Reid Detmers have not shown enough in their minor league starts to earn a return to the majors.
Angels injury updates
Adam Cimber threw for the first time Monday after being placed on the injured list with shoulder inflammation.
Brandon Drury is battling an illness and didn't appear in either game in the Freeway Series against the Dodgers. Washington said the team is putting Drury, who was available off the bench, through a full workout Monday to see if he will be ready to be in the lineup Tuesday.
Anthony Rendon ran the bases Monday for the first time as part of his rehab from a partial tear of the hamstring. Rendon had been taking ground balls and doing baseball activities for the past few weeks.
