Angels News: Logan O’Hoppe Provides Huge Injury Update, ‘I Feel Like I Could Play Tonight’
Logan O'Hoppe was having a great couple weeks.
The 23-year-old catcher was off to a solid start to his 2023 campaign, hitting .283 with four home runs and 13 RBI, and it seemed that the Angels catcher of the future would fully cement that projection.
Then he tore his labrum in his left shoulder in the Bronx against the New York Yankees, putting the rest of what had been a solid season in doubt.
Things have changed in a positive direction since late April day.
First came the prognosis that he would only be out until September. Then came the news that he was again catching baseballs -- but from a pitching machine and not a human hurler.
That stint with technology went well, and O'Hoppe provided the best update yet on his status, telling The Orange County Register's Jeff Fletcher that he feels "like I could play tonight." He's also set to take regular batting practice on Saturday, again showing just how far O'Hoppe's come in just a short two months.
All that, combined with an updated timetable of late August for his potential return, comes at a welcome time for his team as the Los Angeles Angels are clearly preparing to make a run toward the postseason.
And with Shohei Ohtani doing Shohei Ohtani things, trading for Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez, and Mike Trout and O'Hoppe on track to return next month, the Halos could make some long overdue noise in September.
The Angels certainly have the pieces right now to be players in the wild card spot.
But the impending returns of Trout and they're optimistic catcher in O'Hoppe will only help their cause.
