Wantz (elbow) was activated from the injured list and outrighted to Triple-A Salt Lake on Thursday.
Wantz underwent a procedure on his elbow in mid-July, but it was not Tommy John surgery. Nevertheless, he was unable to return to the mound in 2024 after experiencing a setback. He'll presumably be ready for the start of spring training, which would roughly be in line with his initial recovery timetable.
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Angels' Andrew Wantz: Status for 2025 now uncertain
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Wantz (elbow) recently had a setback , and it's not clear when (or if) he'll be able to pitch next season, per MLB.com.
When it was initially clarified that Wantz's season-ending surgery wasn't Tommy John, the expectation was that he'd be ready to take the mound again for spring training in 2025. However, he's since suffered a setback, casting uncertainty about his outlook moving forward. Wantz pitched in only one big-league game this season, allowing one run on one hit while striking out three batters over 1.1 innings June 30 against the Tigers.
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Angels' Andrew Wantz: Gets season-ending surgery
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The Angels announced Saturday that Wantz underwent season-ending surgery on his right elbow, MLB.com reports.
The club didn't provide many details on Wantz's procedure, but the prevailing assumption is that he underwent Tommy John surgery. Assuming that's the case, Wantz likely won't be ready to pitch again until late in the 2025 season, if not the start of the 2026 season. He appeared in just one game out of the big-league bullpen this season and made seven appearances (six starts) at Triple-A Salt Lake, where he turned in a 6.17 ERA and 1.65 WHIP over 23.1 innings. Set to turn 29 years old in October and likely at risk of missing the entire 2025 season, Wantz will likely be a non-tender candidate this offseason.
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Angels' Andrew Wantz: Shifted to 60-day IL
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Wantz (elbow) was transferred to the 60-day IL on Friday.
The move will free up a spot on the 40-man roster for Keston Hiura, who'll also join the active roster Friday. Wantz was placed on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with elbow inflammation, and there hasn't been any further updates on the injury. He won't be eligible for reinstatement until the end of August.
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Angels' Andrew Wantz: Out with elbow inflammation
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The Angels placed Wantz on the 15-day injured list Tuesday, retroactive to July 1, due to right elbow inflammation.
The right-hander was called up by the Halos over the weekend and presumably suffered the injury when he allowed a run over 1.1 innings Sunday versus Detroit. Wantz is without an officially timeline for his return but won't be back until after the All-Star break.
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Angels' Andrew Wantz: Makes return at Triple-A
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Wantz (forearm) has given up nine runs (eight earned) on 12 hits and seven walks while striking out 10 over six innings in his three appearances (two starts) since being activated from Triple-A Salt Lake's 7-day injured list June 12.
Wantz missed just under two months of action due to a right forearm strain. Though he's ostensibly healthy again, Wantz has struggled mightily with his control since coming off the IL. He doesn't look to be a viable option to join the Angels during the upcoming week, even though the big club has two open spots in its rotation at the moment.
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Angels' Andrew Wantz: Sidelined with forearm injury
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Triple-A Salt Lake placed Wantz on its 7-day injured list April 19 with a right forearm injury, Taylor Blake Ward of TheSportingTribune.com reports.
Wantz has worked almost exclusively as a reliever at the big-league level with the Angels over the previous three seasons, but he had been working out of the rotation at Salt Lake after being optioned to Triple-A coming out of spring training. The right-hander had gotten off to a solid start in his first four starts with Salt Lake with a 4.15 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 24:8 K:BB across 17.1 innings, but the forearm injury has halted any momentum Wantz might have built toward a possible promotion to the big leagues. It's unclear when Wantz might be ready to head out on a rehab assignment with one of the Angels' lower-level affiliates.
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Angels' Andrew Wantz: Sent down to Triple-A
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The Angels optioned Wantz to Triple-A Salt Lake on Friday.
The Angels stretched Wantz out this spring but he didn't pitch well, allowing seven runs on 14 hits and four walks over 10 innings. He seems likely to return to a relief role at Salt Lake.
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Angels' Andrew Wantz: Shifting to starter role
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Manager Ron Washington said Thursday that Wantz will be used as a starter by the Angels this spring, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.
Wantz started a Cactus League game this past weekend and went two innings and will remain stretched out for the time being. The 28-year-old hasn't been deployed extensively as a starting pitcher since 2019 in the minors, but the Halos are in need of rotation depth. Ultimately, if Wantz makes the Opening Day roster it would still likely be as a reliever.
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Angels' Andrew Wantz: Opening Sunday
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Wantz will start Sunday's game against the Twins, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
Wantz made his only start of the season Sept. 13 in Seattle and covered two scoreless frames, and he'll likely have a similar workload for Sunday's bullpen game. The right-hander has a 3.93 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 29:13 K:BB across 34.1 innings this season.
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Angels' Andrew Wantz: Recalled from Salt Lake
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The Angels recalled Wantz from Triple-A Salt Lake on Friday.
Wantz returns to the majors as a middle-relief option with rosters expanding to 28. The right-hander has registered a 4.56 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 22:9 K:BB through 23.2 big-league innings this year.
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Angels' Andrew Wantz: Optioned to Salt Lake
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Wantz was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake by the Angels on Friday.
Wantz gave up four runs over two innings in his only appearance with the Angels in June, and he'll head back to Salt Lake with the Angels adding Victor Mederos to the bullpen in a corresponding transaction. Wantz is likely to be up and down for Los Angeles throughout the summer.
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Angels' Andrew Wantz: Back with big-league club
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Wantz was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake on Sunday.
Wantz has spent the past month in the minors and will rejoin the Halos after he posted a 4.22 ERA in nine outings for Salt Lake. The right-hander has a 3.32 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 20:8 K:BB across 21.2 frames in the majors this year.
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Angels' Andrew Wantz: Sent back to Salt Lake
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The Angels optioned Wantz to Triple-A Salt Lake on Sunday.
Wantz allowed two runs over two innings out of the bullpen in Saturday's 6-2 loss to the Twins, so the Angels will swap him off the 26-man active roster for a fresh arm heading into Sunday's series finale. The right-hander has now been demoted three times this season, despite delivering a 3.32 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 20:8 K:BB in 21.2 innings with the big club.
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Angels' Andrew Wantz: Nabs first win of the season
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Wantz (1-0) earned the win over the Yankees on Tuesday, striking out two and walking one while allowing no hits over 1.2 innings of relief.
Wantz entered the game in the fourth with one out and the bases loaded and walked home a run before allowing a second to score on a sacrifice fly. Both runs were charged to starter Jose Suarez. Wantz then retired the next four batters he faced to put him in line for the win with the Angels up 5-2 after the fifth inning. The 27-year-old has made five appearances thus far and has yet to give up an earned run while sporting an 8:1 K:BB over 8.1 innings.
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Angels' Andrew Wantz: Optioned to Triple-A
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The Angels optioned Wantz to Triple-A Salt Lake on Tuesday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
Wantz is being moved down to make room for Griffin Canning (groin), who'll come off the injured list to start Wednesday's game against the Nationals. The right-hander will likely be up as a middle reliever for the Angels in the coming weeks.
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Angels' Andrew Wantz: Wins final spot in bullpen
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Wantz will be a part of the Angels' Opening Day roster, Adrian Garro of MLB.com reports.
Wantz made the decision easy for the Angels with a 0.00 ERA and 1.10 WHIP over 6.1 innings in the Cactus League. The 27-year-old right-hander will be a middle-innings option for the Angels to open the 2023 season.
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Angels' Andrew Wantz: Favorite for final bullpen spot
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Wantz remains the favorite for the final bullpen spot on the Angels' Opening Day roster, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
There are seven relievers -- Carlos Estevez, Jimmy Herget, Jaime Barria, Aaron Loup, Ryan Tepera, Jose Quijada and Matt Moore -- who are seen as locks to break camp with the club, potentially leaving just one more bullpen spot available. Wantz appears to be the favorite for the opening, and he hasn't done anything to hurt his chances this spring, pitching 4.1 scoreless innings during which he's allowed three hits and posted a 4:2 K:BB. The biggest threat to Wantz's opportunity could be hard-throwing youngster Ben Joyce, who has opened eyes with a strong spring and a fastball that has reached 104 mph. While Joyce is the flashier pitcher, he's not currently on the 40-man roster and has yet to pitch above the Double-A level, while Wantz has two big-league seasons under his belt and was effective for the Angels in 2022, posting a 3.22 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 52:21 K:BB over 50.1 innings while picking up eight holds.
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Angels' Andrew Wantz: Hit with first big-league loss
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Wantz (2-1) was charged with the loss and a blown save against Houston on Friday, allowing two runs on two hits while striking out one batter over one inning.
Wantz came into the contest with the Angels up by a run in the seventh inning. He began the frame by allowing Trey Mancini to single, and Chas McCormick followed with a two-run home run to flip the lead in favor of the Astros. Though Wantz bounced back by retiring the next three hitters, the damage was done, and the righty reliever took his first loss in 55 career outings. Wantz has allowed three runs over his past two innings after going six straight appearances without surrendering a run or a hit.
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Angels' Andrew Wantz: Making strides with cutter
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Wantz has been throwing his cutter more often over the past few months, and it has helped him post a 2.08 ERA over 16 games since July 3, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
The cutter wasn't part of Wantz's arsenal early in his professional career -- he began to develop it during the 2020 season, when he worked out at home due to the cancellation of the minor-league campaign. The right-hander didn't use the pitch much early this season, but he's turned to it frequently over the past few months, and his ERA has improved from 4.00 to 3.06 since July 3. Per Fletcher, Wantz attributes his improvement this season to the cutter in addition to more focus on his command.