Los Angeles Angels pitcher Matt Shoemaker suffered a fractured skull and hematoma after he was hit by a line drive during Sunday’s game against the Seattle Mariners.
The Los Angeles Angels have had a rough season to this point and it only got worse on Sunday. Starting pitcher Matt Shoemaker left the game on Sunday after being struck in the head by a 105-MPH line drive.
Shoemaker underwent testing soon after taking the line drive off his head. He suffered a small skull fracture and hematoma from the play. After being hit, his nose quickly started bleeding and he then collapsed on the mound. The ball hit his head so hard that it made it all the way to the Mariners dugout after hitting his head. Incredibly, Shoemaker was able to walk-off the field after taking the hit. The team reported that Shoemaker would go see a neurologist on Monday.
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Matt Shoemaker update: Initial readings of CT scan indicate small skull fracture & small hematoma. He will see a neurologist today. #Angels
— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) September 4, 2016
Shoemaker underwent surgery to stop the bleeding in his brain. The surgery was deemed successful by doctors and the team is expecting a full recovery. The team released a positive update on the right-hander.
Matt is speaking, interacting & doing well considering the trauma. Will spend night in hospital for continued observation. #Angels
— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) September 4, 2016
The Angels have had another rough season. They currently sit 20.5 games out of the division with a record of 61-75. Once again, it looks like the Angels will miss out on the postseason. With the seventh highest payroll in Major League Baseball and the worst farm system, the team needs to make a change. There were multiple rumors that the Angels were looking to move Shoemaker at the deadline, but in the end the team did not deal him.
Shoemaker, 29, is under team control through the 2021 season. This team-friendly contract makes Shoemaker a very interesting name at the winter meetings. His play on the field makes him a huge target as well. In 160 innings pitched this season, Shoemaker has a 3.88 ERA with 143 strikeouts and only 30 walks. The performance on the field, paired with the team-friendly deal will make the asking-price for Shoemaker very significant this off-season.
The Angels do not have a sense of direction right now. Are they contending or are they trying to rebuild? The answer to that is that there is no answer.
The team has not made it out of the American League Championship Series since 2002, when they won the World Series. With the worst farm systems in all of baseball, the Angels do not seem to have a good team in the future. Whether they think they can still contend or not, it is time that the Angels rebuild and Matt Shoemaker is a good piece to start with.