Los Angeles Angels pitcher C.J. Wilson returned to spring training Friday and resumed throwing as he continues his recovery from left elbow surgery and battles through some left shoulder tendinitis.
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Wilson “Looking Iffy” for Opening Day
Friday, March 4
According to the Orange Country Register‘s Jeff Fletcher, Wilson was able to throw, but he has yet to progress to the point where he’s throwing off a mound.
Wilson underwent season-ending surgery to remove bone spurs in his left (throwing) elbow last August, and recent tests revealed left shoulder tendinitis.
But based on the potential outcomes the MRI could have produced, the Angels were not concerned with the diagnosis.
“We were very pleased with the results,” Angels general manager Billy Eppler said, per Fletcher.
So even if Wilson doesn’t return in time for Opening Day, the way the team has publicly discussed the minor setback is reason to believe the southpaw shouldn’t be on the shelf for long.
After racking up at least 200 innings pitched in four straight seasons between 2010 and 2013, Wilson failed to reach that benchmark during the 2014 and 2015 campaigns.
But if there’s a time for him to rebound, 2016 would appear to be it.
The 35-year-old is in the final year of his contract with the Angels, per Spotrac, and a solid showing throughout 2016 could allow him to reap the rewards of one more long-term deal before he calls it quits.
The velocity on Wilson’s fastball has dropped each of the past three seasons, per FanGraphs, but if he can touch somewhere in the range of 91-92 mph on the radar gun while effectively mixing in his curveball and changeup, he could piece together a nice resurgent season.
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