Latest news with #SamAldegheri
New York Times
09-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Blum: Angels' decision to use prospects as innings eaters could be detrimental
ANAHEIM, Calif. — The first time that Sam Aldegheri was called up to the big leagues this season on June 2, then-manager Ron Washington was asked if there was concern a spot-relief promotion could affect his long-term development as a starter. 'We never thought that far ahead,' Washington told reporters. 'Right now, we need length here.' Advertisement The Angels have made it abundantly clear this season that much-needed minor league pitching development is secondary to survival in individual big league games. In a season where the Angels have a 3.7 percent chance of making the playoffs, per FanGraphs, they are focusing on the present and not their future. The most egregious example of this shortsightedness came on Tuesday night, as Aldegheri was forced to wear it. It took three walks and two hits before anyone started warming. In the end, he threw 42 pitches in the fifth inning, giving up four runs. Then, he was asked to pitch a second inning, where he gave up another run. 'Listen, it's a tough spot, when you're in that position and you're here to give us length, and then it kind of gets off the rails a little bit — we have to protect him too,' said interim manager Ray Montgomery. But the Angels didn't protect him. Protecting him would have been keeping him in Double A, starting games every five days, and waiting until he was ready to stand on that big league mound as a starter. Protecting him, at the very least, would have been pulling him when it was clear he didn't have it that night. What the Angels did on Tuesday was force Aldegheri into a bad position — one that could stall or harm his growth. Angels GM Perry Minasian has talked a lot in the last two years about development and growth. Yet so many of his decisions seem rooted in the team's present-day needs at any given moment and not development at the affiliates. His is a front office that has yet to develop a good starting pitcher in the five years it's been at the helm, with many failures occurring along the way. Perhaps that will change someday, but decisions like this make it less likely. 'Of course,' Montgomery said when asked if he was concerned Aldegheri's outing would impact his development and confidence. 'Anytime you don't have success at the major-league level, regardless of your status, it affects your psyche.' Advertisement Minasian did not immediately respond to a text message after the 13-1 loss. Aldegheri is not the only pitching prospect who's been put in this position. Caden Dana and Victor Mederos have also been called up twice as spot long relievers. Mederos filled that role on Monday night, walking two batters in an inning before being optioned to Triple A in favor of Aldegheri. Dana's last appearance for the Angels came on May 24. In his first inning of work that night, he threw 41 pitches and gave up three runs. He was optioned after the game, pitched three more games in Triple A — all very poor — and has been out with what the team says is fatigue. That's to say nothing of Ryan Johnson — a pitching prospect who made his professional debut in the majors on Opening Day this season, only to be optioned to High A after it became evident he wasn't ready. It's because the Angels have rushed so many pitchers to the big leagues that they have compromised their roster flexibility. There are almost no other options on the 40-man roster, other than prospects who were called up before they were ready to stay up. Jake Eder is the only non-prospect in the minor leagues on the 40-man, but he was unavailable for a call-up after pitching the night prior. Bringing up anyone else would require someone being designated for assignment or placed on the 60-day injured list. While the big league team has performed better this season, on the backs of improved play by their one-time first-round picks, the minor league system appears to be in a shambles. The Angels' Triple-A, Double-A and Low-A affiliates are all below .500 in last place — with Double-A Rocket City recently snapping a 16-game losing streak. Calling up prospects before they're ready risks further detriment in an already ugly situation. What happened on Tuesday night wasn't anomalous. Advertisement There's no doubt that owner Arte Moreno — who has always had a hand in baseball operations — has been singularly obsessed with the big league product. There's a reason you'll never hear any of his hired executives use the word 'rebuild.' There's a reason there are no aggressive trade deadline sell-offs, regardless of the team's playoff positioning. That, however, shouldn't lead to this. The front office needs to make better decisions. Embarrassing a pitcher you've invested in, just for the sake of eating a couple innings, should not be an option. Decisions about young pitchers should solely be about what's in their best interest. Because what's in the player's best interest is what will benefit the organization long-term. The people in charge just haven't realized that yet. (Photo of Victor Mederos pitching: Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
MLB Makes Angels Mistake on Friday
MLB Makes Angels Mistake on Friday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Los Angeles Angels won eight straight games in May, but have reverted to their usual ways recently. They're 3-7 over their last 10 contests and are in fourth place in the AL West. Advertisement Los Angeles is also five games out of a Wild Card spot and 5.5 games behind the Houston Astros for first place in the division. The club is tied with the Chicago White Sox for the third-worst run differential in the AL at -57. However, the Angels announced a small silver lining ahead of their matchup with the Seattle Mariners on Friday. They reinstated rookie right-handed pitcher José Fermín from the injured list after optioning southpaw hurler Sam Aldegheri on Thursday, via Angels PR. Los Angeles signed Fermín as an international free agent in October 2023 and called him up this past April. The 23-year-old has a 5.87 ERA over nine appearances. Advertisement MLB's official site had initially posted that Aldegheri was going to Triple-A, which was incorrect, via The Orange County Register's Jeff Fletcher. The fellow 23-year-old allowed two unearned runs across 2.1 innings vs. the Boston Red Sox in his season debut on Wednesday. The Angels nearly swept the Red Sox before their off day on Thursday, but they lost on a 308-foot walk-off homer by center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela on Wednesday. The two-run shot was the shortest walk-off home run since the advent of Statcast in 2015, per Sarah Langs. Right-handed pitcher Kyle Hendricks (2-6, 5.34 ERA) will start for Los Angeles on Friday. Advertisement Related: Alex Cora Sends Message After Red Sox's Historic Walk-Off Against Angels Related: Angels Announce Injury News After Outfielder Leaves Red Sox Game This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
Reuters
02-06-2025
- General
- Reuters
Angels place 3B Yoan Moncada, RHP Robert Stephenson on IL
June 2 - The Los Angeles Angels placed third baseman Yoan Moncada and right-handed reliever Robert Stephenson on the injured list Monday in advance of a three-game road series against the Boston Red Sox. Moncada went on the 10-day injured list with inflammation in his right knee. The 30-year-old switch-hitter built a .237/.336/.505 slash line over 30 games with six home runs and 19 RBIs. Stephenson, who was reinstated from the 60-day injured list on Wednesday after recovering from Tommy John surgery, joined the 15-day IL (retroactive to Saturday) due to right biceps inflammation. The 32-year-old threw a perfect inning Wednesday in his 2025 season debut, but he was lifted from Friday's relief stint against the Cleveland Guardians after three pitches. In corresponding moves, the Angels elevated outfielder Matthew Lugo from Triple-A Salt Lake and left-hander Sam Aldegheri from Double-A Rocket City. Lugo, 24, made his big-league debut on May 9 and produced a .231 average with three homers and six RBIs during a 15-game stint that ended last week when Mike Trout was activated from the IL. Aldegheri, 23, returns to the majors for the first time since late last season, when he defeated the Texas Rangers on Sept. 6 to become the first Italian-born pitcher to win an MLB game since 1949. Aldegheri fashioned a 1-2 record with a 4.85 ERA in his three starts over 13 innings. This season at Rocket City, Aldegheri has made nine starts and produced a 2-2 record with a 4.34 ERA. He owns 48 strikeouts and 27 walks in 47 2/3 innings. --Field Level Media
