TAMPA, Fla. — Logan O’Hoppe, the same guy who last year said he’d like to catch 150 games in a season, is coming around to the notion that catchers need days off.
Even when they are sizzling at the plate.
“This year is different than last year,” the Angels catcher said Tuesday. “Now I appreciate (days off) a little more, and I am a little more intentful with it, making sure that my body feels good, and getting everything I need to in. It’s a great opportunity to watch (Travis d’Arnaud) and watch Kyle (Hendricks) pitch. And I learn a lot those days, so I look forward to it more than in the past.”
O’Hoppe had homered in four straight games, the first Angels catcher ever to have such a streak. He was hitting .345 with five home runs and a 1.229 OPS through his first seven games.
Manager Ron Washington said he didn’t want d’Arnaud to go too long without playing.
“It’s time for d’Arnaud to catch a game,” Washington said. “O’Hoppe will be back in there tomorrow. One day is not going to hurt him, but I gotta make sure I keep d’Arnaud fresh too.”
When O’Hoppe has been in the lineup, he’s been hitting fifth for the past few games. His early hot steak raises the question about moving him up in the lineup, perhaps into the cleanup spot.
Washington said in the past he’s reluctant to put his less experienced players in those spots because he doesn’t want them to change their approach.
He said he’s content to wait and see what happens with O’Hoppe, 25.
“He’s cleaning up where he is right now,” Washington said. “You see these guys when they’re young and inexperienced and they show you stuff. You gotta ride the wave first. In time they will tell you where they belong, but that’s transactional when you see someone do something and then you want to move him and put him in a spot and the kid has never done it before. So I’m gonna ride where he is and maybe later on in the season if that’s where he needs to be, he will be there. But right now he’s great where he’s hitting.”
O’Hoppe was briefly moved into the No. 3 spot last year, and it coincided with the start of a six-week slump. O’Hoppe has insisted that the batting order had nothing to do with the slump.
“I’m grateful just be in the lineup, period,” O’Hoppe said. “I felt that way in my debut, and I even feel that way now. So Wash knows best. It’s his job to put the lineup together, and I’m never going to combat that.”
NETO UPDATE
Zach Neto, who is rehabbing from shoulder surgery, was scheduled to play six or seven innings at shortstop in Triple-A on Tuesday night, his third game in the field in his rehab assignment.
Washington said he’s not sure how much time Neto needs, but he at least needs to be able to play nine innings on back-to-back days. So far he hasn’t played nine innings or on back-to-back days.
“We’ve just got to make certain he’s ready to be up here and not where he plays today and he’s off tomorrow,” Washington said. “We don’t need that.”
Neto hit .273 with two homers and a 1.044 OPS in his first week hitting in Triple-A. Washington seems to have higher expectations.
“I told him it’s about time he starts playing baseball the way he an play baseball,” Washington said. “He’s a big leaguer in the minor leagues. I want to see him act like a big leaguer playing against minor leaguers.”
NOTES
Third baseman Yoán Moncada (right thumb irritation) is still unable to play, although Washington said he’s doing “much better.” Washington said Moncada has more difficulty hitting from the left side, which would make him less likely to play against a right-handed pitcher. The Angels are not scheduled to see a left-handed starter through at least the next four games. …
Right-hander Ryan Johnson returned to the roster on Tuesday after being on the paternity list. …
D’Arnaud has caught both of Hendricks’ starts, but Washington said he won’t necessarily keep that pairing together.
UP NEXT
Angels (LHP Yusei Kikuchi, 0-1, 4.50 ERA) at Rays (RHP Ryan Pepiot, 0-1, 2.45), Wednesday, 4:05 p.m. PT, FDSN West, 830 AM
