Another injury rattles the Los Angeles Angels' bullpen. The reliever's Opening Day availability now hangs in the balance, forcing managerial reshuffles.
A key piece of the Los Angeles Angels’ bullpen has suffered another injury setback, manager Kurt Suzuki told reporters at camp. Suzuki didn’t specify what the setback was, diminishing its importance by calling it “little.”
The setback happened to right-handed reliever Robert Stephenson. After signing a three-year deal for $33 million in 2024, Stephenson has pitched only 10 innings in a Halos uniform since signing the deal due to injuries. It now seems that yet another injury will be influencing the 32-year-old’s season.
Stephenson will reportedly undergo tests to determine the extent of the setback, according to Suzuki. The nine-year veteran received an injection in the offseason for symptoms related to thoracic outlet syndrome, causing him to head into spring “a little bit behind everybody,” as he put it.
Still, he was on track to make the Opening Day roster, throwing live batting practice sessions no more than a week ago. Now it seems more likely that Stephenson will instead start the 2026 season on the Angels’ injured list.
Though his Angels' tenure certainly hasn’t gone to plan, especially when considering the lack of commitment the club typically offers pitchers, Stephenson did look promising in his short time on the mound last season. After missing all of 2024 due to Tommy John recovery, Stephenson pitched twice early last season before a nerve-related biceps issue sent him to the sidelines once again.
A few months passed, and Stephenson returned to the mound in Anaheim for 10 more games before elbow inflammation ended his season. In his 12 relief appearances, Stephenson posted a 2.70 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and 23.8% strikeout rate.
Despite a small sample size, Stephenson was a leading candidate for the closer role in the Angels’ bullpen heading into 2026. With the news of another setback, however, Suzuki will be forced to look elsewhere to find his closer.
Luckily, the Angels made several bullpen signings in free agency that could offer support in Stephenson’s absence. Right-handers Kirby Yates, Jordan Romano, and left-hander Drew Pomeranz headlined the offseason acquisitions for the Halos’ bullpen, but their closer may come in the form of a returning man instead.
Right-hander Ben Joyce has the velocity of the ideal closer, but he has less than 50 innings under his belt in the major leagues. With a 3.12 career ERA and a new slider, however, Joyce could be a strong candidate in the case of a lengthy Stephenson absence.
There are multiple options in the bullpen, but Stephenson’s injury setback is another demoralizing event in what’s been a brutal couple of years with the Angels. Heading into the last year of his deal before a team option for 2027, Stephenson will be doing everything he can to return ot the mound and prove his worth once again.