ANAHEIM — Rio Foster, a 22-year-old Angels minor-leaguer, is in critical condition following a “serious car accident,” the team announced on Friday.
The Angels revealed only that Foster was a passenger in the accident and he remains hospitalized in Richland, Washington.
“Obviously it’s way more important than anything we’re doing here today,” Angels interim manager Ray Montgomery said. “Just thinking about him and his family. He’s a great kid.”
Foster was the Angels’ 16th-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, out of Florence Darlington Technical College in Florence, South Carolina. An outfielder, Foster was playing at Class-A Tri-Cities.
The Tri-Cities game on Friday night was canceled.
Foster had been named the Northwest League Player of the Month just a day earlier.
“His career was obviously in a good spot,” Montgomery said. “I’m hoping and praying for the best. That’s all we can do.”
SCHANUEL UPDATE
First baseman Nolan Schanuel, who is out with a left wrist contusion, was set to try take some batting practice against a coach on Friday.
Schanuel had begun ramping up his activity earlier in the week in Kansas City, but he had to slow down.
“We thought he had gotten close in Kansas City, and then he went out and went a little bit further there and it still bugged him a little bit,” Montgomery said. “I think he’s pretty close now. Today will be a good indication.”
Montgomery said he did not think Schanuel would need any at-bats against live pitching to be able to return to the lineup. He last played on Aug. 23. At the time, Schanuel said he hoped he would be back in the minimum 10 days.
“I’m hoping (to be back) as soon as possible,” Schanuel said. “I’ve never missed games like this before. I feel like I’m missing out on a lot. I don’t know what to do with my time. I’m hoping to get out there as soon as possible.”
Schanuel said he doesn’t feel anything while doing defensive work. He just feels it on swings.
“It’s like when I extend my hands and I feel it shoot through my wrist,” he said. “If that can just be tamed down a little bit, I’m welcome to playing with a little bit of pain, but right now it’s a little too much.”
NOTES
Montgomery said Logan Davidson gives the team versatility because he is a switch hitter who can play all four infield positions and the corner outfield positions. The Angels claimed Davidson on waivers on Wednesday and he reported to the team on Thursday. Montgomery said he remembered Davidson from when the then-Oakland A’s took him in the first round of the 2019 draft. “He’s a talented guy,” Montgomery said. “The bat probably didn’t come as much as they would have liked. Switch hitter. Can play all over the infield. Gives us a little depth at first base. I just like his versatility. I like the baseball IQ.” …
In the wake of Taylor Ward’s facial injuries, Montgomery echoed the comments of outfielder Jo Adell, who said that the left field wall in Houston needs to be made safer. “That was a steel beam that he hit out there,” Montgomery said. “It wasn’t concrete. It wasn’t padded. It wasn’t protected. It wasn’t the aluminum numbers that they used. So that needs to be fixed and addressed, for sure.”
UP NEXT
Athletics (RHP J.T. Ginn, 2-6, 5.17 ERA) at Angels (LHP Yusei Kikuchi, 6-10, 3.83 ERA), Saturday, 6:38 p.m., FDSN West, 830 AM