Los Angeles, April 26, 2026 – The Los Angeles Angels announced they have placed catcher Logan O’Hoppe on the injured list after suffering a fractured left wrist during Saturday’s game against the Kansas City Royals. The injury came after O’Hoppe was struck by a foul ball in the seventh inning, forcing him out of the lineup with no timetable yet for his return.
O’Hoppe described the injury as frustrating, noting the fracture was in a tiny bone but enough to bench him indefinitely. “I’m annoyed because it’s such a little thing, such a tiny bone,” O’Hoppe said Sunday. “Obviously I want to be in there every day.” Despite a slow start this season, batting just .205 with a .579 OPS, O’Hoppe had recently shown signs of improvement, including three hits and a walk over two games and throwing out two runners trying to steal on Saturday.
“That’s what I’m pissed off about,” O’Hoppe added. “Things started to really feel like they were aligned behind the plate too. But we’ll take this time to keep polishing that off and go from there.” The injury strikes at a crucial time as O’Hoppe was regaining momentum.
To fill the roster gap behind the plate, the Angels called up catcher Sebastian Rivero from Triple-A Salt Lake. Rivero, 27, was hitting .239 with a .557 OPS in the minors and is seen as a veteran presence who can manage the pitching staff while contributing offensively. “The guy’s a pro,” Angels manager Kurt Suzuki said. “He knows how to handle a staff. We feel confident with him coming up.”
Veteran catcher Travis d’Arnaud, 37, is also expected to see playing time alongside Rivero. D’Arnaud has struggled early this season, batting just .125 in 19 plate appearances.
Pitching Shake-Up: Romano and Anderson DFA’d Amid Staff Shuffle
O’Hoppe’s injury comes amid other significant roster moves. The Angels designated right-handers Jordan Romano and Shaun Anderson for assignment Sunday due to pitching struggles and shifting needs ahead of a potential rain-shortened game.
Romano, who signed a one-year, $2-million deal in the offseason, carried a bright start but faltered badly recently with a 10.13 ERA after eight innings. Suzuki said the decision was difficult but necessary given the pitching demands and poor recent performance.
“It was a tough call for us, but we felt like for where we’re at with the arms that we need… this was the option that we felt was best for us,” Suzuki said.
Left-hander Joey Lucchesi and right-hander José Fermín were called up to fill the vacancies alongside Rivero. Lucchesi had a 4.32 ERA in Triple-A after starting the season in the majors, while Fermín was already on the Angels’ 40-man roster.
Seattle native Suzuki reflected on last-minute schedule adjustments due to expected rain, with the Sunday game pushed up from 6:20 p.m. to 3:10 p.m. local time. “It’s better than coming back on your off day. As a player, it’s tough. You’ve got your routine and all that stuff, but at the end of the day, you’ve got to audible sometimes and you’ve gotta make things work,” Suzuki commented.
Lineup and Strategy Updates
The Angels also shuffled their batting order, dropping first baseman Nolan Schanuel from the No. 3 spot to No. 5 after a prolonged slump partly linked to an early April ankle injury.
Looking ahead, the Angels will face the Chicago White Sox Monday at 4:40 p.m. PT, on FanDuel Sports Network and 830 AM. The team will rely on a mix of catchers and fresh arms as it navigates injuries and roster churn early in the 2026 MLB season.
With O’Hoppe sidelined indefinitely and pitching changes underway, the Angels face a critical stretch as they seek to stabilize their pitching staff and shore up defense behind the plate. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how the roster adjusts moving forward in a competitive American League West race.
