Patrick Sandoval's Season Cut Short by UCL Tear
In a devastating blow to the Los Angeles Angels, Patrick Sandoval has been diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his pitching elbow, an injury that will end his season prematurely. Sandoval, who also sustained a high-grade flexor tear, will undergo Tommy John surgery, a procedure that typically requires 12-18 months of rehabilitation.
Sandoval, 27, who took the mound as the Angels' opening-day starter, was pitching a high-stakes game against the Los Angeles Dodgers when the injury occurred. The incident took place during a pitch to his former teammate, Shohei Ohtani. He issued a third-inning walk, and his final pitch—a notably slow 89.3 mph sinker, down 4.6 mph from his previous pitches—immediately displayed signs of trouble.
The moment was alarming for everyone in the stadium. Sandoval hopped off the mound, shaking his pitching arm, grimacing in pain, and motioning to the dugout. The initial diagnosis was left forearm tightness, but further medical evaluation revealed the more severe torn UCL and flexor tear.
"It's a long recovery process, but I'm going to come back stronger," Sandoval stated, expressing a determined outlook despite the challenging road ahead.
Such an injury is a significant setback for Sandoval, who had amassed a season record of 2-8 with a 5.08 ERA over 16 games. "It's tough for him, especially him, because he was really, really starting to compete. Now we know he's got to get it fixed," lamented Manager Ron Washington, emphasizing the unfortunate timing of the injury.
Sandoval has been a crucial part of the Angels’ pitching rotation for six seasons, with a career record of 19-45 and a 4.01 ERA. His season-ending injury underscores a critical juncture for the Angels, who will now have to make significant adjustments to their lineup to compensate for his absence.
Financially, Sandoval is in a relatively stable position, earning a salary of $5,025,000 this year. He remains eligible for salary arbitration through the 2024 and 2025 seasons and could become a free agent after the 2026 season. Nonetheless, the injury's timing during his prime playing years casts a shadow over his future prospects.
"I love being out there playing. It's just unfortunate," Sandoval admitted, highlighting his passion for the game and the unfortunate turn of events that will keep him off the field for an extended period.
The Angels will now face the challenge of filling the void left by Sandoval, potentially looking for internal solutions or external acquisitions. The road to recovery for Sandoval is long, but his resolve to return stronger is evident. As the season progresses, his absence will undoubtedly be felt by the team and fans alike.