Kent Bewley's News Story Collection

Ahead of their homestand against the Houston Astros and Tampa Bay Rays, the Los Angeles Angels made some big moves to their 26-man big league roster, which has featured plenty of players who have been called up and sent down to the minor leagues this season. The big move is the call-up of their top-rated prospect shortstop Denzer Guzman due to Vaughn Grissom being placed on the injured list with side tightness. Guzman made his big league debut in September of last season and can play at third base with Zach Neto occupying the shortstop position while healthy. Guzman has been producing big numbers while playing for the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees as he has a .336 batting average in Pacific Coast League play, a .402 on-base percentage, and a .573 slugging percentage. Guzman has hit 12 home runs and has driven in 56 RBIs so far this season. The Halos desperately need a consistently good offensive bat in their lineup and Guzman will have a chance to prove himself worthy of a constant major league roster spot over these next couple weeks.

Another significant move made was the call-up of veteran first baseman Trey Mancini, who has spent a lot of years on big league rosters such as the Baltimore Orioles, Chicago Cubs and Astros. Mancini has spent a lot of time in the minor leagues in recent seasons, but he has a proven track record in being a great major league bat with some power in it. With a career average of .263, 129 home runs and 400 RBIs, Mancini has also accumulated a lot of extra base hits with 156 career doubles. He last played on a big league roster with the Cubs in 2023 and is best known for overcoming a colon cancer diagnosis during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and he made a triumphant return to the field in Baltimore on opening day in 2021. Mancini won a World Series ring with Houston in 2022 after being traded by the Orioles at the trade deadline. Serving as a backup to the recently returned from the injured list Nolan Schanuel, Mancini can also serve as a designated hitter with Jorge Soler on the IL currently. Adam Frazier was placed on the injured list to make room for Mancini to be called up from the IL.

Other important injury updates for the Angels include Yoán Moncada being transferred from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day injured list with a knee injury that’s kept him out for two weeks. Jack Kochanowicz was also placed on the IL with right elbow inflammation after a couple of bad starts. It is not clear who could take over in Kochanowicz’s spot in the rotation, but the list could include someone on the roster like Samy Natera Jr or Mitch Farris or Sam Aldegheri, who all happen to be left-handed pitchers(something the rotation is lacking other than Reid Detmers). Minor-league options to call up include Caden Dana, George Klassen(who made two starts in April) and Taijuan Walker, who was signed to a minor league contract after being released by the Philadelphia Phillies. For now, the Angels await the 2026 regular season debut of Guzman, who now wears number 23 after his number 13 from last year was taken by Drew Pomeranz. Along with fellow infield options Oswald Peraza, Donovan Walton and Nick Madrigal, Guzman will have plenty of veterans to learn from at the big league level, including from Mike Trout.