Angels brace for major rotation and lineup shakeup after Kochanowicz’s UCL tear and Moncada’s right-knee surgery

The Los Angeles Angels’ outlook took a sharp hit as the club confirmed that right-hander Jack Kochanowicz will undergo Tommy John surgery after an MRI revealed a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow. The team also said third baseman Yoán Moncada will have surgery on his right knee next week. Together, the procedures effectively remove two key pieces from the day-to-day picture, forcing the Angels to make rapid decisions about pitching depth and infield roles.

Kochanowicz’s injury surfaced during his routine work. The club reported that he began experiencing discomfort while throwing changeups on Saturday, prompting an MRI exam on Monday. By Tuesday, the diagnosis was clear and the path back was no longer speculative. The team indicated Kochanowicz will miss the remainder of the season and could be sidelined through the 2027 season, with no timetable established for Moncada’s return from knee surgery.

Angels officials said the elbow diagnosis was a surprise because Kochanowicz’s fastball velocity was normal. He told the team he “didn’t think this was in the cards,” adding that he felt the issue might be “just maybe a little angry,” and that the discomfort appeared to be linked specifically to the changeup. According to the Angels’ report, he was still able to throw at a normal velocity in his previous start, even as results deteriorated.

On the results side, Kochanowicz’s season has had two distinct stretches. Through his first seven starts, he posted a 3.05 ERA. Over his last six starts, his ERA rose to 11.91. Across 13 starts, the Angels’ release listed him with a 6.19 ERA, 47 strikeouts, and 36 walks in 64 innings. The team’s update also referenced that, against the Dodgers on Saturday, he allowed seven runs while recording just one out, even as his fastball averaged 97 mph in that outing.

The Moncada news adds another layer to the Angels’ immediate challenges. The club moved him to the 60-day injured list on Monday and said he is not eligible to return until July 21. That timeline matters not just for Moncada’s own availability, but for the team’s choices at third base and the balance of its infield defensive alignment.

In the wake of Kochanowicz’s injury, the Angels must determine who fills the spot in the rotation while he rehabs a torn UCL through a process that typically includes a substantial timeline and a careful return-to-throwing program. The team’s report also noted that Denzer Guzman, listed by the Angels as their No. 7 prospect, was called up on Monday to serve as the club’s regular third baseman, indicating how quickly the organization is already adjusting its position-player depth.

For the Angels, the most immediate watch items are how quickly they can stabilize pitching innings without Kochanowicz and how the infield settles at third after Moncada’s season-ending schedule impact. Over the longer term, the procedures raise the stakes for roster construction heading into the second half and into next season, when the organization will need to manage both rehabilitation timelines and replacements’ opportunities at the major-league level.

The club did not offer a return date for Moncada beyond the eligibility threshold, and the exact rehab course for Kochanowicz can vary by individual response and the progression of throwing. Still, the timing of these diagnoses suggests the Angels are preparing for a prolonged adjustment window, not a short-term workaround. What happens with pitching depth and third-base continuity in the weeks ahead will help determine how they handle the rest of this season’s title-picture math.