Ongoing headaches put Walsh on IL
An ongoing bout with headaches and insomnia will put Angels first-baseman Jared Walsh on the injured list to open the season.
Walsh is set to see a specialist to help him through the issue, with manager Phil Nevin conveying a positive outlook.
“It's a two-week program so he's not going to start the year with us,” Nevin said. “He is really encouraged about the program he's going to and he's able to still do baseball activity. We'll see how (long) the duration is but, obviously, that puts him on the IL to start the season.
“So yeah, we're gonna miss Walshy for the first part.”
Walsh, 29, was in the midst of a strong spring, batting .400 with a 1.197 OPS to go along with two home runs and six RBIs. He is coming off a disappointing 2022 when he had a .642 OPS in a season when he was bothered by thoracic outlet syndrome.
In 2021 Walsh was an American League All-Star for the first time with an .850 OPS, 29 home runs and 98 RBIs in 144 games.
Nevin suggested the lack of sleep and accompanying head pain shouldn't be an ongoing issue.
“This is a quality of life thing; this isn't baseball related,” Nevin said. “... We've known about this for a little while, and he's just been reaching out to some places that he thinks can help and he's found a spot and he's relieved about that.
“I think us as a team, and as a support group, need to be relieved as well that he feels comfortable that he's gonna be back with us soon and in a good place in his mind.”
The IL move for Walsh means that veteran infielder Jake Lamb was expected make the Opening Day roster. Lamb, who has nine years of major league experience, batted .419 with a 1.013 OPS in 16 Cactus League games and had two home runs with nine RBIs.
But Lamb was a late scratch from Monday's starting lineup with glute tightness. Preston Palmeiro started at first base instead.
Stassi to IL
The hip soreness that surfaced Sunday for Max Stassi will land the catcher on the IL to open the season. Top prospect Logan O'Hoppe now will begin the season on the roster.
Stassi, who had been away from the club for personal reasons, experienced the soreness in a minor league game at Tempe, Ariz.
O'Hoppe will not only make his first Opening Day roster, after appearing in five late-season games for the Angels in 2022, he will be behind the plate for Thursday's season opener on the road against the Oakland Athletics.
“I've let him know that and it was a good conversation,” Nevin said.