Angels’ Jared Walsh, Max Stassi to begin season on injured list

ANAHEIM — An ongoing bout with headaches and insomnia will put Angels first baseman Jared Walsh on the injured list to open the season.

Walsh is set to see a specialist to help him through the issue, with Manager Phil Nevin conveying a positive outlook.

“It’s a two-week program so he’s not going to start the year with us,” Nevin said. “He is really encouraged about the program he’s going to and he’s able to still do baseball activity. We’ll see how (long) the duration is, but obviously that puts him on the IL to start the season. So yeah, we’re gonna miss Walshy for the first part.”

Walsh, 29, was in the midst of a strong spring, batting .400 with a 1.197 OPS to go along with two home runs and six RBIs. He is coming off a disappointing 2022 when he had a .642 OPS in a season when he was bothered by thoracic outlet syndrome.

In 2021 Walsh was an American League All-Star for the first time with an .850 OPS, 29 home runs and 98 RBIs in 144 games.

Nevin suggested the lack of sleep and accompanying head pain shouldn’t be an ongoing issue.

“This is a quality of life thing; this isn’t baseball-related,” Nevin said. “… We’ve known about this for a little while, and he’s just been reaching out to some places that he thinks he can help and, and he’s found a spot and he’s relieved about that.

“I think us as a team, and as a support group, need to be relieved as well that he feels comfortable that he’s gonna be back with us soon and in a good place in his mind.”

The IL move for Walsh means veteran infielder Jake Lamb is expected to make the Opening Day roster. Lamb, who has nine years of major league experience, batted .419 with a 1.013 OPS in 16 Cactus League games and had two home runs with nine RBIs.

But Lamb was a late scratch from Monday’s starting lineup with glute tightness. Preston Palmeiro started at first base instead.

STASSI TO IL

The hip soreness that surfaced Sunday for Max Stassi will land the catcher on the IL to open the season. Top prospect Logan O’Hoppe now will begin the season on the roster.

Stassi, who had been away from the club for personal reasons, experienced the soreness in a minor league game in Tempe, Ariz.

O’Hoppe will not only make his first Opening Day roster, after appearing in five late-season games for the Angels in 2022, but he will be behind the plate for Thursday night’s season opener on the road against the Oakland Athletics.

“I’ve let him know that and it was a good conversation,” Nevin said.

MORE ROSTER PLANS

Nevin said right-hander Andrew Wantz will be on the roster to start the season, with the No. 6 starter spot still undecided.

The club is high on both left-hander Tucker Davidson and right-hander Griffin Canning for the sixth spot, with Davidson out of minor league options.

Infielder David Fletcher remains out with a groin injury but might return for Tuesday’s Freeway Series finale.

GETTING IN LINE

The Angels’ Opening Day lineup will look fairly similar to what they had on the field in Sunday’s Freeway Series game, although Shohei Ohtani will be the pitcher and Anthony Rendon will be at third base.

Otherwise, O’Hoppe will be the catcher, Brandon Drury will be at first base, Luis Rengifo will be at second and Gio Urshela will get the start at shortstop. Taylor Ward will be in left field, Mike Trout will be in center and Hunter Renfroe will be in right.

Ward, Trout, Ohtani and Rendon will be at the top of the order, followed by Drury, Renfroe, Rengifo, Urshela and O’Hoppe.

TEE TIME

Plans were unveiled Monday for a new golf course in south New Jersey to be owned by Trout and designed by Tiger Woods.

Trout National-The Reserve is set to open to members in 2025 and be located in Vineland, N.J., less than an hour south of Philadelphia.

Trout said he hasn’t played a round of golf with Woods yet, but the pair have connected on planning conference calls. One of the Trout National golf holes will have an island green.

Expect the course to have some length. Trout said he can hit a ball 340 yards off the tee with a driver and was asked if he can hit one 400 yards on occasion.

“When I try to let it eat,” Trout said, “but it might not be straight.”