CHICAGO — The Angels are apparently pretty comfortable with Jo Adell as their everyday center fielder.
By releasing Mickey Moniak and sending Matthew Lugo to Triple-A, the Angels set their Opening Day roster with the intention of giving Adell some runway to play the spot every day.
The backup is Kyren Paris, who has mostly played the infield. Mike Trout obviously could play center field in a pinch, but the Angels would prefer to keep him in right field.
Manager Ron Washington said Adell made strides with his defense in center late in spring training.
“I saw him grow the last couple of weeks,” Washington said. “All of a sudden, his angles got better. He started being in the right place. He started learning how to get behind the ball. He started throwing the ball to the right bag. So it’s coming. It’s going to be work in progress.”
At the plate, Adell hit .172 with a .569 OPS in spring training, although he finished with a good week.
Washington said the primary backup is Paris, who played eight games in center in spring training. Paris played two big-league games in center in 2023.
“He’s got the speed,” Washington said. “He’s got the instincts. There may be some growing pains, but he earned his spot, so I’m not going to sit on him. I’m going to put him out there. I expect him to continue to grow the way he’s grown to this point.”
If Adell gets hurt and the Angels need another center fielder for an extended period, it could be Lugo. He was sent to Triple-A to play center field.
NETO UPDATE
Shortstop Zach Neto, who is on the injured list rehabbing from shoulder surgery, has begun DHing in minor-league games in Arizona. He even hit a few homers.
“Knowing Zach, because he hit the ball out of the ballpark, he thinks he’s ready to come here,” Washington said. “We’ve still got to progress him in his throwing and his movements, and just keep up with him and make sure that everything he’s doing is proper, so when his time comes, he can come here and just take off.”
Neto has been making some throws from shortstop, but he still hasn’t played defense in games.
BACHMAN’S STATUS
Right-hander Sam Bachman, who missed much of spring training with what he vaguely described as some “stuff,” was placed on the injured list with thoracic outlet syndrome.
At this point, Bachman is not having surgery.
Bachman, the Angels’ first-round pick in 2021, has been hurt for much of his short career, with back and shoulder injuries before this latest injury.
MOORE TO DOUBLE-A
The Angels assigned top position player prospect Christian Moore to Double-A to start the season. Moore, who had an outside shot at making the Opening Day roster, remained in big-league camp all spring. Moore hit .217 with a .604 OPS in spring training. He also showed he needed some more work at second base.
“We kept him around as long as we could so he can experience that high level,” Washington said. “I think he understood that it’s more than just going out there and the ball coming off the bat and him catching it and throwing it somewhere. There’s decisions to be made out there, and that comes with experience and time. And I’m talking about experience of just playing. And he got that experience now we can go to his team. He can settle in, and he can be Christian Moore.”
Infielder David Mershon, who also remained in big-league camp all spring, was sent to Triple-A. The Angels want Mershon to play shortstop, and they have Denzer Guzman playing shortstop in Double-A.
NOTES
Third baseman Yoán Moncada (bruised thumb) was not in the lineup for Opening Day, but Washington said he planned to play him in the second game, on Saturday. “I want to watch him to take BP and move around again,” Washington said. “I’ll get him in the lineup (on Saturday).” …
The Angels didn’t keep a true backup first baseman on the roster, so Kevin Newman will begin the season as the primary backup to Nolan Schanuel. …
Right-hander Jack Kochanowicz will start Sunday. The Angels will have left-hander Tyler Anderson and right-hander Kyle Hendricks pitch – in an order to be determined – on Monday and Tuesday in St. Louis. …
Top pitching prospect Caden Dana was assigned to Triple-A. It’s noteworthy because the Angels have typically had their best pitching prospects avoid the hitter-friendly environment in Salt Lake. …
The Angels’ Opening Day roster included just nine players who were on the 2024 Opening Day roster. Only 15 of the 26 were in the organization at the end of last season. …
Left-hander Garrett McDaniels became the Angels’ first Rule 5 pick to make the Opening Day roster since right-hander Luke Bard in 2018.
UP NEXT
Angels (RHP José Soriano, 6-7, 3.42 ERA in 2024) at White Sox (RHP Jonathan Cannon, 5-10, 4.49 in 2024), 11:10 a.m. PT Saturday, at Rate Field, FanDuel Sports Network West, 830 AM