ANAHEIM -- The Angels received a boost on Tuesday with third baseman Yoán Moncada getting activated from the 10-day injured list, while pitching prospect Sam Aldegheri was also called up from Double-A Rocket City to join the bullpen.
Infielder Chad Stevens and right-hander Victor Mederos, who was called up Monday, were both optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake. Moncada had been out since June 1 with a right knee sprain, but was reinstated after he went 4-for-9 with a homer and four walks in three rehab games in the Arizona Complex League.
He started at third base and hit sixth in a 13-1 loss to the Rangers, going 0-for-4 at the plate, but he did make a diving play to rob Josh Smith of a hit to end the fourth. Aldegheri had a rough night in relief of José Soriano, allowing five runs over two innings, which forced infielder Kevin Newman to pitch three innings in relief.
“Considering I had a month without playing, I didn’t feel that bad,” Moncada said before the game through interpreter Manny Del Campo. “I felt OK. I had pretty good at-bats and good games. So I’m just doing my thing and doing what I can to help the team win.”
Moncada, who signed a one-year deal worth $5 million in the offseason, has been solid for the Angels when he’s been healthy enough to take the field, as he also dealt with an injured right thumb early in the year. He’s hit .228/.325/.485 with six homers, six doubles and 19 RBIs in 31 games. He’s one of the club’s more patient hitters and lengthens the lineup.
“We've all seen it,” interim manager Ray Montgomery said. “We know how valuable he is to us. He just anchors everything, kind of brings a peace and calm to third base and the lineup. And just his presence.”
Moncada said his knee isn’t at 100 percent yet, but that it’s manageable. The 30-year-old played just one game at third as part of his rehab assignment but said he felt fine defensively. The switch-hitter also said he can hit from both sides of the plate.
With Moncada back in the mix, Luis Rengifo is expected to see most of his time at second base, especially with No. 1 prospect Christian Moore on the injured list with a sprained left thumb sustained on Wednesday. Moore is likely to be out until late July or early August.
Stevens, meanwhile, went 2-for-13 in his first taste of Major League action, including getting his first hit against future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer in Toronto on Saturday. Rengifo, though, will serve as Moncada’s backup, while Newman can also handle third base.
“I think there's sort of an ‘err on the side of caution,’ just in general,” Montgomery said. “We've got a four-day break coming up in a week. He's missed some time but he played the three games, and he came out of it clean, and we want to keep that momentum going.”
Aldegheri, meanwhile, was brought up for a second time this year to give the Angels some length in their bullpen. Mederos was the roster casualty despite looking sharp in a scoreless inning in Monday’s 6-5 walk-off win over the Rangers.
Aldegheri, ranked as the club’s No. 5 prospect by MLB Pipeline, posted a 4.83 ERA with 63 strikeouts and 40 walks in 14 starts in Double-A. The Verona, Italy, native admitted he’s scuffled this year but did throw six scoreless innings in his last outing on Wednesday.
“I’ve struggled a little bit,” Aldegheri said before Tuesday's loss. “But I think my last outing I did pretty good. I was pumping the zone with strikes. So just trying to get back on track and help the team win.”
He fared well in his earlier appearance with the Angels this year, allowing two unearned runs over 2 1/3 innings on June 4 at Fenway Park. It was a special experience for Aldegheri, who grew up a Red Sox fan.
But he couldn’t replicate that against the Rangers, as he threw 42 pitches in the fifth inning and struggled with his control. The Angels hoped he could eat up innings in long relief, but he gave up five hits and walked four over two innings. He’s likely to be optioned back to Double-A on Wednesday.
“It's a tough spot when you’re in that position to give us length and it gets off the rails a little bit,” Montgomery said. “We have to protect him, too. So after the two innings, that was more than enough given the circumstances.”