LA Angels Garrett Richards throws off mound for 1st time

The LA Angels got some encouraging news Saturday as Garrett Richards threw off the mound for the first time since tearing his UCL on May 1st. The results were encouraging for the Angels.

With all the bad news regarding starting pitchers the LA Angels have had this season, the news that Garrett Richards was able to get back on the mound again less than five months after injuring his elbow is nothing short of a medical miracle. Richards only threw 20 pitches, all fastballs, and only at eighty percent speed, but he has had no ill-effects since then, which has led the Angels and Richards to be cautiously optimistic.

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The goal over the next month is for Richards to build up his stamina, and eventually throw full speed and then mixing in some breaking balls. If all continues to progress without any setbacks Richards will be slated to pitch two or three times for the Angels Instructional League team in Arizona in October.

So far since having the stem-cell injections in late May, Richards has met every checkpoint and passed with flying colors.  The Angels are hoping that Richards will be ready to go come Spring Training next season.  It would be a major boost to a staff hit hard by injuries.

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Richards was one of three Angels starters to go down with a UCL tear in their elbow this season.  Richards and Andrew Heaney both chose the stem-cell injection route in hopes of returning by the beginning of the 2017 season rather than have Tommy John surgery.  Heaney’s stem-cell injections did not show enough progress and he opted for Tommy John Surgery in July, and he will be sidelined until 2018.

Later in July, Nick Tropeano went down with the same injury and opted for Tommy John surgery right away and he will also be sidelined until 2018. The Angels also got some encouraging news Tuesday that Tyler Skaggs, who came back from Tommy John surgery in late July.  Skaggs threw for the first time since being diagnosed with a strained flexor muscle in his left forearm earlier this month.  He threw from 90 feet Tuesday and then from 120 feet Wednesday.

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No timetable has been set for Skaggs to throw off a mound or return to pitching for the Angels.  Skaggs may get one more start this season if he progresses enough.  If not Skaggs will probably join Richards in the Arizona Instructional League and make two to three starts to make sure everything is good with his arm going into the off-season.

Richards threw again yesterday this time it was 30 pitches off the mound and again it went well.

Whatever the case may be the Angels finally have something to celebrate in Richards and Skaggs as well. Keep your fingers crossed