When Is Luis Rengifo Coming Back? Fantasy Baseball Injury Update

The road to recovery is underway for Luis Rengifo, the Los Angeles Angels' versatile super utilityman, whose recent injury has stirred speculation among both team enthusiasts and fantasy owners alike.

The injury bug has bitten the Angels hard over the last few weeks, decimating an already paper-thin roster. Since the calendar turned to May, the Angels have placed lineup fixtures Mike Trout, Luis Rengifo, Brandon Drury, and Ehire Adrianza on the IL. They join teammates Miguel Sano, Anthony Rendon, and Chase Silseth who have been occupying the IL going back to the beginning of April.

The Angels put Rengifo on the 10-day IL with a viral infection on Thursday, May 9, a move retroactive to Monday, May 6. Rengifo was seeing the ball well before his trip to the IL, hitting for a healthy .330 average while chipping in nine steals in 28 games.

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Luis Rengifo Injury & Implications for Fantasy Baseball

Last week, manager Ron Washington told reporters that Rengifo was having difficulties standing on his feet for too long due to his illness. The Angels still held out hope that Rengifo was going to be able to pinch hit but that task proved to be too much and they decided to shut it down for a few days to help the recovery process.

All signs are pointing to a minimum IL stay, and Rengifo is expected to return to the lineup next week when first eligible. His first game back would potentially be Friday night in Texas against Rangers lefty Andrew Heaney. A return can't come quickly enough for Angels fans as the replacement options behind Rengifo are starting to wear thin. After putting both infielders Brandon Drury (hamstring) & Ehire Adrianza (back) on the IL this week, the team pivoted to a quick trade with the Atlanta Braves to acquire Luis Guillorme. Along with Guillorme, the Angels also called up Double-A prospect Kyren Paris to add depth and versatility. While both of these players can help the Angels defensively, neither is expected to make up for the lost ABs of Rengifo and Drury.

Ron Washington after I asked him how much he misses Luis Rengifo (who’s hitting .333 with an OPS of .840) in the lineup:

“We miss him. He’s been playing great. We miss Mike. We Miss Rendon. We miss Sano. Guys have to step up and we know that.” #angels #RepTheHalo

— Brandon Deutsch (@brandonsdeutsch) May 10, 2024

Forecasting Luis Rengifo's Fantasy Impact for the Rest of the Season

While it's certainly a major disruption for fantasy owners to try and replace the success that Luis Rengifo has had at the plate and on the basepaths this season, a short stay on the IL can make this situation much more tolerable. Right before the injury, Rengifo was riding a 10-game hot streak where he was batting 13-for-31 (.419), with two home runs, seven runs scored, six RBI, and three stolen bases. 

Given the offensive production, eligibility at multiple positions, and the apparent short-term injury status, most owners seem to have figured out a way to stash him in an IL spot. However, if by some chance he's sitting on your waiver wire, scoop him up and don't look back. When all is said and done after 162 games, Rengifo's numbers will most likely settle into a more normal range but it wouldn't be surprising if he finishes the 2024 campaign with numbers challenging his career highs across the board. With his playing time locked in, Rengifo is capable of putting together a 15 HR/35 SB season (currently on pace for 50+ SBs) while not hurting a team in batting average.

.330/.378/.462
30 H
6 2B
2 HR
11 RBI
9 SB

La gran temporada de Luis Rengifo. 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/JJRFjGftUQ

— Aguilucho (@aguilucho_real1) May 4, 2024

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