ANAHEIM — Kirby Yates was ready to break down his 23-pitch rehab outing Friday.
The Angels’ primary concern was that he came out of his evening at Class-A Rancho Cucamonga feeling healthy and on his way to a return to the major leagues.
In his first competitive outing since pitching in Cactus League games this spring because of left knee inflammation, Yates had plenty to dissect and the Angels got the news they were looking for.
“All in all, I think it was positive,” Yates said after giving up one run on one hit and a walk in an inning of work. “There was probably the first five or six pitches where I was a little skeptical of the knee, but I didn’t feel it and got over (the mental hurdle) pretty quick. Command and everything was pretty good, but it just needs a little bit more (velocity).”
More minor league rehab outings are ahead, but just how many remain uncertain.
Yates has been throwing bullpen sessions, and the minor league games are a way for the Angels to see how durable he is at this stage of recovery. Yates’ track record suggests he will be able to find his form in due time.
“It was positive in the sense that he feels good,” Angels manager Kurt Suzuki said. “Everything kind of went well in that regard. Sounds like probably at least a few more (outings) to kind of continue to build up. But talking to him, he said his body felt great.”
Yates revealed that he was supposed to go on a rehab outing a week ago, but just before it was about to happen, soreness returned to his knee.
“I came in the day before, and I did something that kind of pissed off my knee and knocked me back a week,” Yates said. “So, you know, we got to be aggressive but cautious at the same time. I don’t want another step back.”
Yates was 4-3 with a 5.23 ERA in 50 relief outings for the Dodgers last season, but his year ended early because of a hamstring injury. In 2024, as a member of the Texas Rangers, the veteran was 7-2 with a 1.17 ERA and 33 saves in 61 relief outings. The Angels hope to get something close to that performance.
Their optimism comes from the fact that Yates is reunited with former Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux this season.
The Angels are anxiously awaiting Yates’ season debut. The relievers carried a combined 4.46 ERA into Saturday’s game, near the bottom third of bullpens in MLB and at about the midway point of bullpens in the American League.
“It’s a fun team to be a part of,” Yates said of the Angels. “I would like to help us contribute to winning, probably as soon as possible.”
MOVING FORWARD
Suzuki was impressed by the latest bullpen session from right-handed starter Grayson Rodriguez.
“It looked really good. I watched half of it,” Suzuki said. “He looks good. He’s kind of starting to get that itch. We got to make sure we do everything right with him. But I love the way he’s throwing, and hopefully we can just keep progressing.”
The next step in the recovery process would be to face live hitters.
“I think he’s ready for it,” Suzuki said. “He’s asking for it.”
The Angels do not figure to be in a rush to get Rodriguez back on the field. The return in the trade that sent outfielder Taylor Ward to the Baltimore Orioles, Rodriguez did not pitch last season because of a lat strain and an elbow cleanup procedure.
The downtime means that Rodriguez’s innings would have been limited anyway, so starting him later in the season would fit into a conservative plan for his return.
BULLPEN MOVES
Right-hander Walbert Urena was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake, while left-hander Sam Aldegheri was optioned back to the Bees.
Urena returns after making the first two appearances of his big league career early in the season.
He was not charged with an earned run in either outing, but in his second appearance against the Houston Astros on March 28, he allowed an inherited runner to score and was charged with six unearned runs as things unraveled after his own throwing error and another error by catcher Logan O’Hoppe.
At Salt Lake, Urena made two starts and gave up six earned runs in a combined 8⅓ innings.
“He’s a young pitcher that’s still learning and trying to work on being consistent,” Suzuki said. “But the stuff is there and we feel like he can come up here and help us win some games.”
Aldegheri made just one relief appearance after he was recalled earlier this week, giving up one run on two hits over 1⅔ innings against the New York Yankees.
UP NEXT
Padres (RHP Michael King, 2-1, 2.78 ERA) at Angels (LHP Reid Detmers, 1-1, 3.57 ERA), Sunday, 1:07 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network, 830 AM
