Simmons (ankle) undergoing further tests
Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons left Monday’s 3-0 loss to the A’s at the Oakland Colesium in the ninth inning after injuring his left ankle while beating out an infield single.
With one out in the ninth, Simmons hit a comebacker that deflected off the glove of right-hander Joakim Soria to shortstop Marcus Semien. Semien threw to first, but Simmons beat the throw. But in doing so, he caught the back of the bag and rolled over his ankle. Simmons left the field with the help of trainer Adam Nevala and was replaced by Matt Thaiss as a pinch-runner.
Angels manager Joe Maddon said Simmons is being evaluated and that he doesn’t expect an update until Tuesday.
“We have to wait for him to see the doc and then get the report back from the medical staff,” Maddon said. “I don’t know enough yet. I’ve heard about previous injuries. I had a really good look at it and could see it without having to look at replay to see the way he turned it at the back of the bag.”
Monday's incident was eerily similar to the way Simmons injured his left ankle last year, also at first base, when he suffered a Grade 3 ankle sprain that caused him to miss more than a month. Simmons also suffered a Grade 2 ankle sprain in June 2018 that caused him to be held out of action for 10 days.
If Simmons misses extended time, David Fletcher is expected to serve as the club’s regular shortstop. Fletcher has been filling at third base with Anthony Rendon out with oblique soreness. But Rendon could return as soon as Tuesday’s home opener against the Mariners. Infielder Luis Rengifo is also nearing a return from hamstring tightness and could be activated from the 10-day injured list early in the week, giving the Angels more depth.
"You have to have the appropriate depth and replacements, and we do," Maddon said. "[General manager] Billy [Eppler] and I already are talking about it. We'll move it around tomorrow or the next couple days. You're going to lose good players on occasion, but to get to that final game of the year, you have to have depth."
Simmons, 30, is in the last year of a seven-year, $58 million contract he originally signed with the Braves before the 2014 season. The shortstop went 1-for-4 on Monday and is hitting .188 (3-for-16) with one double and one RBI on the year.