Angels' Griffin Canning: Looks good in return to mound
Rotowire
Canning tossed two scoreless innings in Monday's Cactus League contest against Cleveland, allowing two hits and no walks while striking out two batters.
Canning missed the entire 2022 season due to a lower-back stress fracture, so Monday's outing was particularly important for the right-hander. He tossed 31 pitches and didn't appear to have any lingering effects from the injury. Canning allowed just two singles in Monday's start -- one didn't leave the infield, and the other was a blooper. The 26-year-old is battling for a role at the back of the Angels' rotation, though it remains to be seen how much he'll be able to stretch out by the end of spring.
... See More... See Less
Angels' Griffin Canning: Spring debut coming soon
Rotowire
Canning has been a full participant in spring training and is expected to make his first Cactus League start later this week, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.
Since turning in a 3.99 ERA while striking out nearly a batter per inning in his second MLB season in 2020, Canning has struggled to stay on the field over the past two years. After making just 14 appearances (13 starts) in 2021, Canning didn't pitch at all in 2022 while recovering from a lower-back stress fracture. Though Canning reported to camp with no restrictions, the time he missed over the past two years could work against him in his bid to clinch a spot in the Angels' season-opening rotation. Canning still has a minor-league option remaining, so the Angels could opt to have him stretch out at Triple-A Salt Lake to begin the season until a rotation spot opens up at the big-league level.
... See More... See Less
Angels' Griffin Canning: Goes through live BP
Rotowire
Canning (back) threw a 26-pitch live batting practice session Thursday, Sarah Valenzuela of the Los Angeles Times reports.
It's the first time facing hitters this camp for Canning, who missed all of the 2022 season because of a stress fracture in his lower back. The 26-year-old has missed a bunch of time due to injury but has a clean bill of health this spring and is competing for the final spot in the Angels' six-man rotation.
... See More... See Less
Angels' Griffin Canning: Facing live hitters soon
Rotowire
Canning (back) will face live hitters this week, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register reports.
Canning has no limitations in camp despite missing all of the 2022 season due to back issues. The 26-year-old is competing for the sixth spot in the rotation with the Angels, and a strong start in the Cactus League would go a long way towards winning that job. Assuming good health, he should be able to make starts in Arizona relatively soon.
... See More... See Less
Angels' Griffin Canning: Full-go at spring training
Rotowire
Canning (back) is a full-go at Angels camp this spring, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.
Canning did not pitch at any level in 2022 because of a stress fracture in his lower back, but he enjoyed a fairly normal offseason and already has several bullpen sessions under his belt. If his health cooperates, the 26-year-old right-hander should again emerge as an option for the Angels' six-man rotation here in 2023. He holds a 4.73 ERA and 214:81 K:BB through 209.1 career major-league innings.
... See More... See Less
Angels' Griffin Canning: Avoids arbitration
Rotowire
Canninga (back) and the Angels agreed on a one-year, $850,000 contract Friday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Canning will avoid the arbitration process with the Angels after the two parties were able to strike a deal Friday. The right-hander missed the 2022 campaign while rehabbing a stress fracture in his lower back, and he'll have a shot at returning to the Angels' rotation in 2023. Canning owns a career 4.73 ERA over three seasons with Los Angeles.
... See More... See Less
Angels' Griffin Canning: Set to resume throwing
Rotowire
The Angels announced Wednesday that Canning (back) has been cleared to start a throwing program, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.
Canning missed the entirety of 2022 while he rehabbed from a stress fracture in his lower back, but he's now ready to throw for the first time since May. The 26-year-old had a 5.60 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 62:28 K:BB in 62.2 innings across 14 outings in 2021 prior to the injury. Even if he's healthy to begin 2023, he's likely to face some workload limitations.
... See More... See Less
Angels' Griffin Canning: Expected to avoid surgery
Rotowire
Angels head athletic trainer Mike Frostad indicated this week that Canning (back) remains on track to avoid surgery, per MLB.com.
Canning's lower-back stress fracture cost him the final seven weeks of 2021 and all of 2022, but he's still not expected to need surgery. The right-hander is slated to see a specialist in November, which should provide more clarity about a treatment plan and potential return to throwing. If Canning does in fact avoid surgery, he could be ready to pitch by spring training next season.
... See More... See Less
Angels' Griffin Canning: Won't pitch this season
Rotowire
Angels head athletic trainer Mike Frostad said Thursday that Canning (back) has been shut down for the rest of the season, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.
Canning missed the final seven weeks of 2021 with a stress fracture in his lower back, and he's been unable to resume throwing since early May while experiencing multiple setbacks in his recovery. The 26-year-old will have six-plus months to get healthy for the start of spring training.
... See More... See Less
Angels' Griffin Canning: Slated for checkup soon
Rotowire
Canning is expected to have a checkup on his injured back soon, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
Canning is currently shut down from throwing with an uncertain timeline for resuming a throwing program. The right-hander has said that he aims to return this season, but he experienced a setback when attempting to play catch May 16. Canning was subsequently advised to take a conservative, non-surgical approach to treatment, but he could ultimately need surgery if his back doesn't properly heal.
... See More... See Less
Angels' Griffin Canning: Avoiding surgery for now
Rotowire
Canning (back) said he won't undergo surgery on his back after visiting a specialist Monday, and he hopes to pitch again this season, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.
The right-hander has been battling the back issues since last July and suffered a setback during spring training, but he'll opt for a rehab program rather than surgery. Canning doesn't have a timeline to start a throwing program, so it seems unlikely he'll be back during the first half of the season. He can continue to be considered out indefinitely at least until he's able to participate in some baseball activities..
... See More... See Less
Angels' Griffin Canning: Visiting specialist
Rotowire
Canning (back) will visit a specialist Monday and may require surgery, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
Canning has been dealing with back issues dating back to last July. He suffered a setback during spring training but was throwing in April and May before getting set back yet again. His outlook doesn't appear to be particularly good if surgery is on the table, though a better sense of his return timeline should emerge early next week.
... See More... See Less
Angels' Griffin Canning: Not currently throwing
Rotowire
Canning (back) hasn't thrown since suffering a setback following a simulated game May 9, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
Canning looked to be rehabbing well when throwing bullpen sessions in late April, but he experienced soreness after his first simulated game and hasn't been able to throw since. Per Fletcher, Canning tried to play catch Monday, but that didn't go well. Canning will have a follow-up with a doctor Wednesday, which may provide some clarity about his outlook moving forward.
... See More... See Less
Angels' Griffin Canning: Suffers setback
Rotowire
Canning (back) experienced soreness after tossing a simulated game Monday and will scale back his throwing for a few days, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
Canning's sim game Monday was only two innings, but the right-hander felt "more soreness than expected" afterward and will now take a step back from his throwing progression. It's not clear if this will affect his timeline for returning to the big club since he's not eligible to return until early June. It's at least encouraging that the Angels hope Canning can play catch Wednesday, per Sam Blum of The Athletic.
... See More... See Less
Angels' Griffin Canning: Facing hitters Monday
Rotowire
Canning (back) will face live hitters Monday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
Canning began throwing bullpen sessions in mid-April, and he'll face hitters for the first time during Monday's throwing session. He's been throwing off a mound twice a week recently and recently said that he expects to be ready to return when he's first eligible June 6.
... See More... See Less
Angels' Griffin Canning: Nearing live bullpens
Rotowire
Canning (back) is expected to begin throwing live bullpen sessions within the next week, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
Canning has been throwing off a mound twice a week to build up arm strength. There is no timetable for his return, but news of his progress is encouraging.
... See More... See Less
Angels' Griffin Canning: Tosses another bullpen session
Rotowire
Canning (back) threw 30 pitches, including fastballs and changeups, in a bullpen session Tuesday, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.
Canning has gradually been raising his pitch count as he works his way toward a return from the lower back stress fracture he suffered last July. The right-hander was initially expected to be ready for Opening Day but has been delayed by a setback that he endured early this spring. Canning has been on a Tuesday/Friday throwing schedule, and he will follow that again this week, possibly upping his pitch count to 35 this Friday, per Blum.
... See More... See Less
Angels' Griffin Canning: Scheduled to throw Friday
Rotowire
Canning (back) is expected to toss a bullpen session Friday, Alyson Footer of MLB.com reports.
Canning threw 20 pitches -- all of which were fastballs -- in his previous bullpen Tuesday, and he's slated to get back on the mound Friday. The right-hander suffered a lower back stress fracture last July and encountered a setback in March as he prepared for the start of the season. Canning was subsequently placed on the 60-day IL and isn't eligible to return until late May.
Canning (back) will throw a bullpen session Tuesday in Houston, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
Canning has been playing long toss since late March and is now prepared for the next step in his throwing program. He isn't eligible to return from the 60-day injured list until early June, though his rehab appears to be on track to this point.
