SEATTLE — Zach Neto’s day-to-day hand injury has turned into a three-day injury, raising the question of whether this is going to be an issue for the Angels shortstop for the final two weeks of the season.
“With the hand it’s going to be tough,” said bench coach Ryan Goins, who is serving as Angels manager this weekend. “Still day to day. We’ll see where he’s at from there.”
One of the reasons a quick fix seems unlikely is that this injury has already been bothering Neto for nearly a month, since he was hit by a pitch on Aug. 20. Although he’d played every game since then until Friday, there were a couple moments during those games when Neto irritated the injury either at bat or in the field.
He was hurt while fouling off a pitch on Thursday night. He did not start any of the next three games, even though he said he could be available off the bench.
Neto acknowledged Friday night that he’s frustrated this has lingered so long.
“It’s never fun to get hit, especially in a spot where it’s most common,” Neto said. “It’s my glove hand. I’m catching a ball there every single day. You know me. I like to throw myself around in the infield too. So diving doesn’t help me either. But it’s just a matter of not changing who you are. I’m still going to stand on the plate. If I get hit there, I get hit there again.”
Neto’s injury has given some opportunity for rookie Denzer Guzman to play shortstop, his natural position, in his first stint in the big leagues. Guzman, 21, has played both shortstop and third in the minors, and he’s more likely to play third in the long-run because of Neto.
He showed with a slick play on the first ball that was hit to him on Saturday night.
“It was pretty impressive,” Goins said. “That’s kind of who he is on the defensive side, when you put him at shortstop or third base, he will go out there and make plays.”
FEELING BETTER
A day after outfielder Jo Adell had two hits, including his 36th homer of the season, he said he’s still not entirely over the case of vertigo that knocked him out of the starting lineup four times this week.
“I’m not all the way there yet, but I’m good enough to go,” Adell said.
Adell acknowledged that the flight to Seattle on Wednesday night set him back, after he played on Wednesday afternoon. He said he thinks he “will be OK” after Sunday night’s flight to Milwaukee, though, because he’s learned what medication to use. Also, the Angels have an off day on Monday.
ALMOST READY
Catcher Logan O’Hoppe will be eligible to come off the concussion list when the Angels open a series in Milwaukee on Tuesday.
“He hit BP yesterday,” Goins said. “He’ll catch today in the ‘pen, so he seems to be taking the right progression. So we’ll see where he’s at.”
Although it seems likely that O’Hoppe will be activated on Tuesday, Goins said ultimately the doctors will decide.
“Obviously, with a concussion, that’s nothing to mess with,” Goins said. “He’ll come off at the right time when the doctors and such think it’s the right time to come off… That’s something that’s nothing to play with. You see it in football all the time, with concussions. Getting hit by a swing is just tough. You don’t want to mess with the head.”
Catcher Travis d’Arnaud is also on the concussion list. While O’Hoppe remained active around the team throughout the entire period of his time on the concussion list, d’Arnaud returned to Southern California after he was hit in the head.
NOTES
Right-hander Ryan Zeferjahn (right knee tendinitis) threw in the bullpen on Sunday for the first time since he went on the injured list. Zeferjahn is expecting to be activated when he’s eligible, next Sunday. …
Goins managed on Saturday and Sunday because interim manager Ray Montgomery was away for a funeral. Goins said the experience on Saturday night was “awesome” and he hopes to be a manager someday.
UP NEXT
Angels (RHP Caden Dana, 0-1, 6.32) at Brewers (RHP Freddy Peralta, 16-6, 2.69), Tuesday, 4:40 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network West, 830 AM
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