Angels: Garrett Richards Expected to be Ready for 2017 Opening Day

The Angels rotation suffered a lot of injuries early in the season. One of those pitchers, Garrett Richards, looks ready for the start of the 2017 season.

The Los Angeles Angels were dealt a raw hand at the beginning of this season. Two-fifths of their starting rotation had an elbow injury that shortened their seasons. Garrett Richards is one of those pitchers and is on track to be ready for the 2017 Opening Day.

Richards damaged his ulnar collateral ligaments in May and missed the rest of the season. He looked good in the six starts he made, though. Despite a 1-3 record, he had a 2.34 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 8.8 K/9 and 3.9 BB/9. He threw four straight quality starts to end the month of April.

This was off the heels of a 15-12 record, 3.65 ERA and 1.24 WHIP season in which Richards made 32 starts. He entered the season the No. 27 starting pitcher drafted in ESPN fantasy leagues. Who knows how he would have finished the season, but things were looking good.

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The most common treatment for damaged UCLs is the famous Tommy John surgery. However, Richards decided to go a different route. He went with stem cell treatment and that seems to be working out for him.

Richards made a successful start in the Instructional League on Wednesday. Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register called this “the most important moment of the Angels’ offseason.”

Richards threw 55 pitches in this start. He struck out five and walked none in four innings. According to Fletcher’s report, his fastball topped out at 96 MPH, which is good for someone coming off of a UCL injury.

He was scheduled to meet with Dr. Steve Yoon for a final examination on Friday. He may receive an additional stem-cell injection to strengthen the muscle before he resumes throwing in January. This puts Richards on track to return to the Angels rotation at the beginning of the season.

Next: What Happened to Jake Lamb?

The Angels already lost Andrew Heaney (who tried stem-cell treatment) and Nick Tropeano to TJ surgery. C.J. Wilson and Jered Weaver are free agents at the end of the season. Ricky Nolasco and Matt Shoemaker seemed to be the only ones locked in the rotation.

Where you draft Richards is going to be the struggle. How early is too early? Is he worth a top-100 player? I unfortunately don’t have the answers to any of these questions. His performance in the IL is promising. This is something we need to check back in on once pitchers and catchers report. All I know is that the Angels need him to return.

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