The Angels made just a few strikes earlier than tonight’s sport in Minnesota. Los Angeles chosen nook bat Eric Wagaman onto the 40-man roster. The Halos additionally recalled reliever Guillo Zuñiga from Triple-A Salt Lake. They step onto the MLB membership rather than Anthony Rendon and Ben Joyce.
Rendon lands on the 10-day injured checklist, retroactive to September 8, with a left indirect pressure. Joyce is on the 15-day IL with a retroactive placement date of September 7. The fireballer is coping with shoulder irritation. The Halos moved veteran reliever Matt Moore to the 60-day injured checklist, formally ending his season, to create the required 40-man spot.
Wagaman, who turned 27 final month, will get to the massive leagues for the primary time. Any main league name would have been rewarding, however debuting with the Angels is especially candy. Wagaman is an Orange County native who grew up as a Halos fan. He attended Orange Coast Faculty in Costa Mesa and entered professional ball as a Thirteenth-round choose of the Yankees in 2017.
The correct-handed hitter performed components of six seasons within the New York system. Wagaman posted middling numbers within the low minors however appeared to hit his stride in Double-A. He hit nicely in restricted seems to be there between 2022-23. The Angels chosen him with their first choose of the Triple-A part of final winter’s Rule 5 draft. That bought him his first prolonged higher minors alternative along with his hometown membership.
Wagaman has taken benefit. He has break up his time between the highest two minor league ranges and mixed for a .274/.339/.469 slash via 495 plate appearances. He has related on 28 doubles, 4 triples and 17 homers whereas putting out at solely a 16.8% clip. Primarily a primary baseman, Wagaman has branched out a bit defensively this yr. He has logged just a few hundred innings within the nook outfield and at third base. He ought to work as a bat-first participant off Ron Washington’s bench for the season’s last few weeks as he tries to keep up his 40-man roster spot within the offseason.
Rendon goes on the IL for the third time this season and the twelfth stint of his Angels tenure. He’s not formally out for the season, however an indirect pressure with lower than three weeks to play may end in him being shut down. If that finally ends up being the case, he’ll shut the yr with a .218/.307/.267 batting line and no dwelling runs. Rendon has appeared in 57 video games this season and hasn’t topped 58 video games in any of his 5 years with Los Angeles (although he probably would’ve overwhelmed that quantity if not for the shortened schedule in 2020). He’s beneath contract for $38MM yearly for an additional two years.
Joyce hasn’t pitched in per week due to the shoulder concern. He’ll be out till the ultimate week of the season. It doesn’t appear to be a serious concern. The second-year righty informed Erica Weston of Bally Sports activities West (X hyperlink) that he expects to pitch once more this season. Joyce has been a uncommon shiny spot for the Angel bullpen. He owns a 2.08 ERA with an enormous 58.9% ground-ball fee throughout 34 2/3 innings. The Tennessee product throws tougher than anybody else, touching 105.5 MPH in his most up-to-date look. With Carlos Estévez gone, he may get the primary look within the ninth inning subsequent season.
Moore has been out since late August with a forearm damage. The severity isn’t recognized, nevertheless it’s a suboptimal technique to go to free company. The southpaw performed this yr on a $9MM wage. He struggled to a 5.03 ERA throughout 51 appearances. He’ll return to the market at age 35 and is likely to be restricted to minor league presents.
