Los Angeles Angels: Garrett Richards To Pitch Live Batting Practice
Los Angeles Angels pitcher Garrett Richards has been slowly working his way back to the mound for next season. On Wednesday, he’ll take another step by throwing a live BP session.
The Los Angeles Angels Opening Day starter hasn’t thrown since the month of May. Garrett Richards has been battling a tear to the ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow. Richards was able to avoid Tommy John surgery, something Andrew Heaney and Nick Tropeano couldn’t do.
This is a huge plus for the Angels going forward. The quest to regain health among key pitchers begins now. Richards declined surgery and went for stem-cell therapy and it’s paid off for him.
He told the media he feels as good as he did during spring training. Hopefully, Richards can maintain his health to make it to 2017 spring training. The Angels are still going to remain cautious with Richards.
Whether Richards is 100% right now isn’t the big issue here. The Angels are going to need Richards to pitch more than six games next season. If Richards pitches a few games during the instructional league without any setbacks, the Angels will likely start him early next season.
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Mike Scioscia said that Richards has passed all the test needed to return to the mound. Both he and Tyler Skaggs will get some throws during the upcoming instructional league and then get ready for next season.
What’s also unclear is if the Angels will try to bring in another big league pitcher to help with the rotation. That and the uncertainty of Jered Weaver‘s upcoming decision on his future gives the Angels a lot to ponder during the offseason.
This offseason will determine a lot for the fans going forward to next season. Can Billy Eppler create enough cap space to sign the right players to fill all the holes on the Angels roster?