Overview
- Kochanowicz told reporters on Tuesday that an MRI showed a torn ulnar collateral ligament and he will have Tommy John surgery, a procedure that reconstructs the elbow ligament.
- The operation will sideline him for the remainder of the 2026 season and is expected to delay his return until around the second half of 2027.
- Kochanowicz is currently on the 15-day injured list and the Angels plan to transfer him to the 60-day injured list when they need the roster spot, while he will continue to receive major-league pay and accrue service time this year.
- The club has already recalled left-hander Sam Aldegheri and is weighing recalls of 40-man pitchers George Klassen or Caden Dana or outside pickups to cover starts because the rotation has posted a collective 4.76 ERA and the team sits 25-42.
- Beyond the immediate lineup gap, the injury highlights the team’s longer-term depth problem and will force offseason roster decisions since injured list status disappears in winter and the Angels must decide whether to keep Kochanowicz on the roster.