In spite of his 9.00 Single-A earned-run average, Sean Burnett said that his rehabilitation assignment Saturday went well.
Well enough that he might not need another.
“I’ll play catch today. If that goes well, I’ll talk to the front office and hopefully they’ll let me go Tuesday,” Burnett said.
The left-hander, who’s been out since April 26 with stiffness in his right forearm, gave up a home run and induced three ground balls in his lone inning of work for the Inland Empire 66ers. More importantly, he didn’t feel any pain in the forearm.
Back in the Angels clubhouse Sunday, Burnett said “I gave up a pop fly that went out,” which is consistent with every scouting report ever filed at Stater Bros. Stadium in Adelanto, home of the High Desert Mavericks. Jabari Blash homered off Burnett in the fifth inning, giving the Mavericks 45 home runs in 42 games this season.
The home run didn’t bother Mike Scioscia, but the Angels manager wouldn’t commit to activating Burnett for Tuesday’s game in Seattle just yet.
“There’s a possibility,” Scioscia said. “I don’t know if his outing was exactly what he wanted it to be last night as far as how he felt, but it’s the first time in three weeks you’re out there, so you have to let your body let you know where you are. I don’t think there’s any pain, it’s just trying to work back into your delivery. It’s just his delivery is a little bit complicated, across his body, so he’s got some work to do there. He comes out of it well and it feels good, he gets a little work in, a little touch and feel, there’s definitely a possibility he’ll get activated Tuesday.”