LA Angels Tyler Skaggs 1st Season Back From Tommy John Surgery

Tyler Skaggs had shown plenty of promise back in 2014 when he first joined the LA Angels. He was only 22 years old and was throwing up some gems. That same year is when Tyler Skaggs tore his UCL and required Tommy John surgery.

This year was Tyler’s first season back with the LA Angels after his surgery. Being two years older, and out of the game for nearly two years: Tyler Skaggs had a lot to prove with his return.

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LA Angels Tyler Skaggs could not have returned at a better time this year. The Angels were basically using anybody they could to start their games when Skaggs returned towards the end of July. Skaggs was given a chance to shine and to show he was able to be a dominant piece in the LA Angels starting rotation.

Tyler’s first game back was nothing short of a gem. A seven-inning outing where he gave up no runs on three hits and one walk. He looked comfortable to the point you wouldn’t have guessed he hadn’t pitched the past two years.

The second game for Skaggs was also pretty good. Again he didn’t give up any runs but had given up four hits and two walks and was pulled after 5.1 innings.

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Those first two games set a tone for Skaggs‘ return. He was back and he was ready to help a dying rotation. Unfortunately, Skaggs wasn’t able to keep up with his first two games. His next four starts had him giving up seven runs in one game, and then four runs in the other three. Thankfully Skaggs was able to pitch a six-inning no-hitter at the end of August, but throughout the month he had put up an ERA of 7.23.

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Skaggs had two starts in September. The first he had gone six innings and gave up three runs. His second game he also went six innings but gave up no runs on two hits. Sometime after his start on September 9th, he was diagnosed with a flexor pronator strain and had to sit out his next couple starts.

He was able to return for one last start on October 1st. He was capped out at forty-five pitches due to his strain and was pulled after only 1.2 innings.

Final Grade

In 49.2 innings pitched this year Skaggs was able to put up a 4.17 ERA and a 1.490 WHIP. It is a very small sample size, but it is the second most innings Tyler Skaggs has pitched in the major leagues.

There were two stats of Skaggs’ that jumped out. In 2014 Skaggs had only given up thirty walks. In 2016 where he had pitched less than half of the innings he pitched in 2014, he had given up 23 walks. His command this year seemed to disappear sporadically. On top of this, Skaggs had fifty strikeouts this year compared to 86 in 2014. Again he only pitched 49 innings this year compared to 113 in 2014.

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Tyler Skaggs obviously didn’t have an amazing season. But, I would argue that if he had pitched a full year he would have been able to do some amazing things. He had shown us glimpses of what he is capable of doing, he was just in the middle of figuring all of his mechanics out. He may not have had an amazing return this year, and that’s okay. Next year, though, I can’t help but feel he has a chance to truly shine for the LA Angels.

2016 Grade = B