Angels hopeful Aybar will avoid DL

Angels hopeful Aybar will avoid DL

Published Jul. 23, 2012 6:13 p.m. ET

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Shortstop Erick Aybar is wearing a walking boot and is still not recovered from a bruised big toe on his right foot, but Angels manager Mike Scioscia said he’s hopeful the team can avoid putting Aybar on the disabled list.
 
X-rays of Aybar’s toe showed what Scioscia called “a line” in the toe, which could possibly indicate a hairline fracture. Aybar suffered the injury fouling a ball of his foot Saturday against the Texas Rangers.
 
“He feels a lot better today,” Scioscia said. “Much improved, but not close to playing. It’s something that, at some point when he’s ready to play, he can play through.”
 
The Angels can afford to give Aybar time to recover. They called up infielder Jean Segura from Double-A Arkansas on Sunday and have a day off Thursday, but Scioscia said they don’t want to wait an inordinate amount of time.
 
“The biggest thing is not how long we can wait, but what is a reasonable amount of time where we’ll have to make a decision with Erick,” he said. “Is this thing going to take two days or two weeks? That’s what we’re trying to work through right now.”
 
Scioscia said he’s receiving good reports from Triple-A Salt Lake on outfielder Vernon Wells, who is hitting .455 in three games with one homer and three stolen bases in his rehab from a torn ligament in his right thumb.
 
Scioscia said the Angels would likely make a decision by the end of the week on how soon Wells can be activated from the disabled list. But getting him at-bats in a crowded outfield that’s currently occupied by Mark Trumbo, Mike Trout and Torii Hunter won’t be easy. Wells will probably get more playing time as a designated hitter and pinch hitter.

ADVERTISEMENT
share