Angels Pitcher Kochanowicz Needs Tommy John Surgery, Moncada to Have Knee Procedure

Los Angeles Angels right-hander Jack Kochanowicz needs Tommy John surgery and is expected to miss the remainder of the 2026 season and the entire 2027 campaign, the team announced Tuesday in Anaheim. 19 ERA in 13 starts, striking out 47 batters and walking 36 in 64 innings. 91 ERA across his final six starts.

In those last six appearances he struck out 17 and walked 15 in 22 2/3 innings. He failed to record an out in the first inning against the Dodgers on Saturday night, allowing seven runs and six hits in one-third of an inning during a 9-2 loss. An MRI performed Monday showed a tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in Kochanowicz’s right elbow.

His fastball averaged 97 mph and reached 99 mph against the Dodgers, yet he said afterward that discomfort surfaced when he threw his changeup. “Honestly, I didn’t think this was in the cards,” Kochanowicz said before Tuesday’s game against Houston. ” “I mean, my velo was fine, the fastballs, everything was fine.

It really was just the changeup,” he added. “I thought it was just kind of general soreness. ” Manager Kurt Suzuki said the club is still evaluating internal options to fill Kochanowicz’s spot in the rotation, naming left-hander Sam Aldegheri and Triple-A right-handers Caden Dana and George Klassen as candidates.

Denzer Guzman was recalled from Triple-A on Monday and will receive most of the playing time at third base. The Angels also announced that third baseman Yoan Moncada, 31, will undergo surgery on his right knee. Moncada signed a one-year, $4 million contract in February, was placed on the injured list May 22 with right-knee inflammation, and moved to the 60-day injured list Monday.

048) from the right side of the plate. “We don’t know if it’s a cleanup or a tear,” Suzuki said of Moncada’s knee. ” The specifics of Moncada’s procedure and his recovery timetable remain undetermined.