Andrew Bailey begins the next chapter of his baseball career in Angels’ video room

TEMPE, Ariz. — There are two sets of Angels uniforms. One is the polyester-and-stirruped variety that comes with a number on the back, the kind worn by players and coaches. Everyone else gets a red company polo to pair with jeans or slacks of their choosing.

On the second day of his new job, Andrew Bailey went with the blue jeans.

Bailey, 33, spent most of last year unsuccessfully trying to surmount an injury to his right (pitching) shoulder. He made four appearances out of the Angels’ bullpen – three in April, one in August, with a lot of rehab work in between. After the last game, a scoreless one-inning appearance in Washington D.C., Bailey could see the end coming.

“I worked so hard to get back, and just different parts of the body aren’t working the way they used to,” Bailey said Sunday. “That’s part of it. I was very fortunate to play so long and have the career I did. I think at that point I was like, ‘I need to do some thinking.’ And this offseason just kind of put the icing on the cake with not being able to physically get ready.”

Bailey said he neither pursued nor received any offers to pitch in 2018. Instead, he accepted an offer from Angels general manager Billy Eppler to become the team’s video replay coordinator.

Bailey will spend the better part of three hours a day, 162 days of the year, inside the Angels’ video room scanning for potential challenges. In between, he’ll help with advance scouting and other information-gathering duties.

It’s not a typical job for someone who last appeared on a major league mound months ago, who reported a seven-figure athlete’s salary on his most recent tax form. While lacking glamour, the challenge sounded invigorating to Bailey, who has a degree in finance from Wagner College.

Bailey felt encouraged after speaking with former teammate Scott Atchison, the Cleveland Indians’ bullpen coach. Before Atchison was promoted to his current post, he spent two years as the Indians’ advance coach and staff assistant – a job similar to Bailey’s – after retiring as a pitcher in 2015.

“I sought out his advice and talked to some people in the game I respect, and are well-respected,” Bailey said. “This opportunity doesn’t come often. It’s something I didn’t want to pass up for sure.”

LIKE GRANDFATHER, LIKE GRANDSON

Nolan Fontana is a relatively new name to Angels fans. The 26-year-old infielder debuted last May and got into 12 games, his first MLB experience. This is his second year in the Angels’ major-league camp. He will most likely begin the season at Triple-A Salt Lake.

Including his time in the Houston Astros organization, Fontana has now taken part in four big-league camps. On Saturday, he chuckled at the idea that he’s a “grizzled veteran,” though his major-league camp experience even predates his time as an Astro.

Fontana’s maternal grandfather is the former major league pitcher Lew Burdette. From 1953-63, Burdette won 179 games and helped the Milwaukee Braves win the 1957 World Series. Fontana said that when was growing up in Florida, Burdette had free rein in the Braves’ spring camp.

“When we were in Orlando for spring training, he would walk me into Bobby Cox’s office, talk to him,” Fontana recalled. “Chipper Jones, Andruw Jones, Marcus Giles, Mike Hampton, (Tom) Glavine, (John) Smoltz, (Greg) Maddux – all those guys, got to meet ’em all. It was pretty cool not just to hear from him but show me when he goes into a clubhouse.”

Burdette died in 2007. Fontana was 15 at the time, and his interest in baseball was catalyzed by his grandfather.

“He taught me a lot about the game, but even more so about life,” Fontana said. “He was awesome. Funny man. Hysterical man.”

OHTANI UPDATE

Shohei Ohtani’s next appearance as a pitcher will be Friday, Manager Mike Scioscia said.

The Angels have an exhibition “B” game that day against the Toros de Tijuana, the defending Mexican League champions, at Tempe Diablo Stadium. They will also play a Cactus League game against the Chicago Cubs in Mesa. Scioscia said that it hasn’t been determined which game Ohtani will start.

Ohtani’s next bullpen session will be Wednesday. He will be the designated hitter Monday in the Angels’ game against the Cincinnati Reds.

ALSO

Jefry Marte will be held out of game action “for the next couple days” after his groin tightened up in the first inning of Saturday’s game against the Seattle Mariners. “It doesn’t look like it’s anything that would linger,” Scioscia said.

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