Notes: Upton, Canning feeling good

After a forgettable 2019 campaign that saw him suffer both turf toe that kept him out until mid-June and a season-ending right knee injury in early September, Angels left fielder Justin Upton said he’s fully healthy and ready for a bounce-back year.

Upton has already had some early success, launching a solo homer in Saturday’s 4-1 win, and manager Joe Maddon raved about the way he looked in Summer Camp. Upton, a four-time All-Star, believes it’s the product of good health.

“Physically, I feel really good,” Upton said Sunday. “I feel like I’m moving around well. The injuries are in the past. I still try to maintain taking care of those things, but they haven’t been an issue.”

Upton, 32, said things started to finally click for him late in Spring Training right before the shutdown but that he was able to maintain his mechanics despite not swinging the bat much for several months.

“I didn’t swing very much but I was in the mirror working on body position and things like that,” Upton said. “During Summer Camp, it was kind of a slow start for me. But I kind of maintained what I was working on because I realized that it was all timing-based and the more at-bats that I'm getting, the better timing I'm starting to get.”

Upton, who kneeled during the national anthem on Opening Day on Friday and is a member of The Players Alliance, also said he’s been pleased with the way everyone in baseball has been respectful about players’ decisions regarding the anthem.

“We’ve been happy with how accepting and supportive that Major League Baseball has been,” Upton said. “With the Alliance, it’s the start of something good. It’s special for us to be able to connect with a lot of guys that you don’t see a lot throughout the game, share experiences and share beliefs and share the things that guys are doing in their communities and being able to support them in that.”

Canning ready for 2020 debut

Right-hander Griffin Canning received a platelet-rich plasma injection in his right elbow in March but is healthy and ready to make his first start of the season against the A’s on Monday. Canning was solid in his final tuneup against the Padres, throwing six scoreless innings on Monday. He’ll wear a special heated sleeve on his elbow between innings that vibrates to keep his arm loose.

"I feel ready to go,” Canning said. “I was able to come to the stadium during the quarantine time and was able to throw live to hitters and in Summer Camp I was able to keep it going. So I'm looking forward to it."

Angels tidbits

• Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon (oblique) fielded ground balls and took batting practice before Sunday’s game but Maddon didn’t have an update on when Rendon will return to the field. Rendon could return as early as Monday as designated hitter but appears more likely to make his Angels debut in the home opener on Tuesday against the Mariners.

• Infielder Luis Rengifo has been making good progress with his hamstring injury and has been working out at the club’s alternate site in Long Beach. Maddon was unsure if Rengifo played in any intrasquad games over the weekend but said he’s heard nothing but good things about Rengifo’s progress.