Angels Rookie With 3.13 ERA Has Season-Ending Injury

The let-hander had been a bright spot in the Angels' beleaguered bullpen.

Los Angeles Angels pitcher Samy Natera Jr. (center) hands the game ball to manager Kurt Suzuki (left) during the seventh inning against the Athletics at Sutter Health Park on June 20. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Samy Natera Jr.'s season is over.

The 26-year-old rookie, who showed flashes of brilliance in his first major league season, was placed on the injured list retroactive to Sunday with left forearm inflammation. Because the Angels' season will end before his mandatory 15-day stint is up, Natera's season is over.

In 28 games, Natera was 1-2 with a 3.13 ERA. He struck out 48 batters, and walked only 13, in 31.2 innings.

Natera's ERA was an even-more-impressive 2.35 through Sept. 9, before he allowed three runs in one inning while blowing the lead in Washington last Friday.

It was a rare hiccup for the Mexico native, who debuted June 6 and immediately became a bright spot in a beleaguered bullpen.

The Angels drafted Natera out of New Mexico State University in 2022 in the 17th round of the MLB Draft.

After repeating the advanced Class-A level in 2023 and 2024, Natera appeared in five games (three starts) in the 2024 Arizona Fall League. His 0.75 ERA (12 innings pitched, one earned run) for the Mesa Solar Sox foreshadowed the strong 2025 season to come.

Natera went 4-1 with a 2.64 ERA in a relief role at Double-A Rocket City last year. That earned him a brief look at Triple-A Salt Lake, where he allowed four earned runs in 9.1 innings (3.86 ERA) for the Angels' top farm team.

In six Cactus League appearances in spring training, Natera struggled to an 8.31 ERA, walking four batters in 4.1 innings. He also got into two WBC games for Mexico in the spring, and wasn't charged with a run despite walking three batters and allowing one hit in 1.1 innings.

Natera started the season at Triple-A Salt Lake and went 5-0 with a 3.00 ERA in 20 appearances out of the bullpen. Besides the two weeks he missed in August with a lower back injury, Natera has remained in the big leagues ever since.

Angels activate Sam Bachman

In a corresponding roster move, the Angels activated Sam Bachman from the 15-day injured list. Bachman, a right-hander, got off to a great start before fading in June and July. He ultimately landed on the IL in August with right forearm radial nerve inflammation, and hasn't pitched since.

The 26-year-old right-hander had a 1-2 record and 4.14 ERA in 41 games out of the Angels' bullpen prior to the injury.

Morere to come on this story.