Sam Bachman, Jose Quijada Continue Their Throwing Programs
Los Angeles Angels pitchers Sam Bachman (shoulder) and Jose Quijada (elbow) have continued their throwing programs in spring training. Bachman is recovering from right-shoulder surgery last September and was planning to throw from 75 to 90 feet on Monday. Quijada, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery on his left elbow last May, was planning to throw up to 120 feet on Monday. Bachman will begin the 2024 season on the injured list and is expected to miss at least the first month of the 2024 season. He's not a lock to join the big-league roster when he's activated. Quijada will open the year on the 60-day injured list and probably won't make his 2024 debut until after the All-Star break.
Los Angeles Angels right-hander Sam Bachman (shoulder) won't be ready for Opening Day despite making progress on his rehab. The 24-year-old said he expects to miss the first month of the season and is likely headed to Triple-A Salt Lake to open the season in their starting rotation. Bachman made his big-league debut in the 2023 season and it was a success as he tossed a 3.18 ERA across 11 appearances, all out of the bullpen, and 17 innings of work. However, he also posted a subpar 5.81 ERA across six starts at the Double-A level. Control appears to be his main issue as Bachman posted a 14.3% BB% in the big leagues last season after walking 16.9% of the batters he faced in the minors. A 2021 first-round pick, Bachman's return to action should be monitored by dynasty league managers.
The Los Angeles Angels are calling up right-handed pitching prospect Sam Bachman on Thursday, according to sources familiar with the situation. Bachman, the team's No. 5 prospect per MLB Pipeline, was the ninth overall selection in the 2021 MLB draft. The 23-year-old is getting the call from Double-A Rocket City and will skip Triple-A entirely for the time being. He has some impressive stuff on the mound, but it wasn't translating to much at Rocket City through six starts this year, as he had a 5.81 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 20 walks and 29 strikeouts in 26 1/3 innings pitched. For now, the Angels will use him out of their bullpen in a relief role, so Bachman should be ignored in single-year fantasy formats.
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Sam Bachman appears to be in great shape heading into the spring. The 23-year-old is back up to 95-96 mph in recent bullpen sessions. That's great after seeing Bachman drop into the low-90s last season. The former first-round pick struggled during the majority of his 2022 campaign. He finished with a 3.92 ERA with 25 walks and 30 strikeouts in 12 starts in Double-A. The Angels aren't counting on Bachman to make an impact this season, but the potential is there for him to be a legitimate weapon in Los Angeles at some point.
