Notes: Surgery for Barreto; Upton returns
Angels utility man Franklin Barreto will undergo season-ending surgery on Tuesday, after he dislocated his left shoulder while applying a tag at second base on Sept. 6, Angels manager Joe Maddon said Sunday.
Maddon said the club will know more about Barreto’s rehab process after the surgery. But it’s a blow for Barreto, who was acquired in a trade with the A’s for second baseman Tommy La Stella on Aug. 29.
Barreto, 24, is a former top prospect who has struggled offensively in parts of four seasons, batting .175/.207/.342 with nine homers and 29 RBIs in 101 games. He was 2-for-17 with two RBIs and a stolen base in six games with the Angels, seeing time at second base, third base, left field and shortstop.
Barreto remains under team control through 2024 but is out of Minor League options. So he'll come into Spring Training competing for a spot as a utility player. The Angels are hopeful he can put it together after being ranked as a Top 100 prospect by MLB Pipeline each year from 2015-18.
Upton returns to lineup
Left fielder Justin Upton, who was hit on the helmet by a 94-mph fastball Friday and was held out of the lineup Saturday, returned on Sunday. Maddon said Upton fortunately is fine and there are no concerns the rest of the way.
“He could have played yesterday,” Maddon said. “Once we got to the park and went through all the procedures, he was available to get in that game last night. So all good, gave it a thumbs up in the dugout smiling easily. Looks really normal to me, so my anticipation [is he’ll] be fine today.”