In a recent update from the Angels' camp, manager Kurt Suzuki confirmed that pitcher Rodriguez will kick off the 2026 season on the injured list due to a dead arm issue that surfaced during a Spring Training start on March 11. While this news might raise eyebrows, Suzuki reassures fans that the team is taking a cautious approach with Rodriguez’s recovery.
"We're going to be careful with him to a point," Suzuki explained. "Right now we're just going to slow-play it a little bit, work him back slowly and we don't want to rush him."
At 26, Rodriguez is no stranger to injuries. Previously troubled by lat issues, he hasn't seen MLB action since July 2024 following surgery to remove bone spurs from his right elbow.
His journey to the Angels came via an offseason trade from the Orioles, where he was exchanged for outfielder Taylor Ward. Once a top pitching prospect, Rodriguez showed promise in his sophomore season with a 3.86 ERA over 20 starts before his elbow surgery.
Despite his placement on the injured list, Rodriguez remains active with baseball activities, a strategy that aligns with the Angels' long-term investment in him, given his four years of club control.
"He's been playing catch," Suzuki noted. "He's been doing his strengthening exercises, doing all those things.
And he's feeling good, physically. So [it’s] more of a cautious type of thing."
With Rodriguez sidelined, the Angels will rely on right-handers Jack Kochanowicz and Ryan Johnson to round out the starting rotation. Both pitchers impressed during Spring Training, earning their spots despite previous struggles in the majors.
"They had great camps," Suzuki said. "They've been working their butts off, and we feel they deserve it. They earned it."
Kochanowicz, who posted a 6.81 ERA in 23 starts last season, has shown significant improvement this spring with a 1.98 ERA over 13 2/3 innings, striking out 11 and walking four. Meanwhile, Johnson, a 2024 second-round pick and the No. 2 prospect in the Angels’ system, recorded a 3.78 ERA in 16 2/3 innings, fanning 18 with four walks.
Adding depth to the bullpen, flame-throwing right-hander Walbert Urena will join as a long reliever. Urena's triple-digit fastball dazzled during Spring Training, resulting in 14 strikeouts over 15 2/3 innings.
The bullpen lineup now includes Urena, Ryan Zeferjahn, Chase Silseth, Sam Bachman, Brent Suter, Jordan Romano, Drew Pomeranz, and Kirby Yates. While Suzuki hasn't named a definitive closer, he's open to using multiple pitchers in that role, considering the experience of Yates and Romano, alongside Pomeranz's impressive season with the Cubs.
"Is it easier to have one guy you can name closer? Absolutely," Suzuki remarked. "But I think right now, we're just seeing how it plays out, maybe matchups are better, maybe naming a closer is better, and I think as we kind of get closer, even maybe into the season, we’ll see."
As the season approaches, the Angels are strategically positioning themselves, balancing caution with opportunity, and fans will be eager to see how these decisions unfold on the field.