LOS ANGELES ANGELS NEWS

Kolton Ingram - Sent to minor-league camp Ingram was optioned Saturday to minor-league camp by the Angels.

Impact Ingram was shielded from the Rule 5 draft in the offseason. The left-hander spent the 2022 season with Double-A Rocket City, where he appeared in 50 games with a 2.67 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 73:17 K:BB over his 60.2 innings of work. Ingram will likely open the season in Triple-A, and strong results with the club will give him a chance to pitch for the big-league club before the 2023 campaign comes to an end.

MARCH 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Justin Garza - Optioned to Salt Lake Garza was optioned Saturday to minor-league camp by the Angels.

Impact Garza signed a split contract with the Angels in December, and will open the 2023 season in the minors. The right-hander spent the 2022 season in the Cleveland organization, posting a 4.64 ERA with a 1.23 WHIP for Triple-A Columbus.

MARCH 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Ohtani nearly hits own face with first Classic home run TOKYO -- Not surprisingly, you see Shohei Ohtani most places you go in Tokyo. The superstar two-way player is omnipresent, with merchandise,...

MARCH 12, 2023 • MLB.COM

Michael Stefanic - Optioned to minors Stefanic was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake on Saturday.

Impact Stefanic got a modest look in his first taste of MLB action last season, logging 69 plate appearances over 25 games. However, he managed a meager .197/.279/.230 slash line, well off the .314/.422/.425 line he posted at the Triple-A level. Stefanic is an extreme contact hitter but offers little in the way of power or speed, so he doesn't figure to ever be an impactful fantasy asset. The Angels have multiple infielders returning from injury this season and also added Brandon Drury and Gio Urshela in the offseason, so Stefanic faces a difficult path back to the big leagues.

MARCH 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Jared Walsh - Plays right field Saturday Walsh started in right field in Saturday's Cactus League contest versus Arizona and went 1-for-3 with a run scored.

Impact Walsh was almost exclusively a first baseman last season, though he did get put into left field in two games. However, he played right field in 18 games in 2021, so it's not a position he's entirely unfamiliar with. Walsh's dabbling in right field Saturday coincides with manager Phil Nevin's comment early in camp that he expects to see Walsh spend some time the outfield this season, though the 29-year-old is expected to be the Angels' primary first baseman for the upcoming campaign.

MARCH 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Czech electrician strikes out Ohtani, earns bragging rights for life In the days leading up to the 2023 World Baseball Classic, the Czech national team, making its first appearance in the tournament, was asked...

MARCH 12, 2023 • MLB.COM

Angels expect Shohei Ohtani to miss potential World Baseball Classic matchup with USA TEMPE, Ariz. — Now that Japan has advanced to the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic, Shohei Ohtani’s path through the tournament a...

MARCH 11, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Angels expect Shohei Ohtani to miss potential World Baseball Classic matchup with USA TEMPE, Ariz. — Now that Japan has advanced to the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic, Shohei Ohtani’s path through the tournament a...

MARCH 11, 2023 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM

Lars Nootbaar brings 'grind-it-out spirit' to Japan and WBC

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar has suddenly become a popular star playing for Japan in the World Baseball Classic

MARCH 11, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Why Ohtani is the ace who's too nasty to catch One of the most interesting names on Statcast's new catcher blocking leaderboard isn't a catcher at all. It's Shohei Ohtani. The new metric...

MARCH 11, 2023 • MLB.COM

Aaron Loup - Joins Team USA for WBC Loup was named as an injury replacement Friday for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic.

Impact Loup will be a bullpen option for the United States in the mid-to-late innings. The left-hander appeared in 65 games for the Angels in 2022 with a 3.84 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 52:22 K:BB over 58.2 innings.

MARCH 11, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Mike Trout leads US in WBC at apex of stellar baseball career Mike Trout was asked to be a part of this U.S. team for the World Baseball Classic. He didn’t have to be. The 31-year-old slugger knew he wa...

MARCH 10, 2023 • PANTAGRAPH.COM

Chris Rodríguez - No timetable for return Angels head athletic trainer Mike Frostad indicated Friday that Rodriguez is still having some issues with his surgically repaired shoulder, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Regi...

Impact "We sort of listen to Chris and how he's telling us he's feeling every day," said Frostad. "He has great days and there's some days where it's not as great." Rodriguez is continuing to throw on the side in camp, but there's no timetable for when he might begin appearing in games. The 24-year-old right-hander hasn't thrown a pitch at any level since August 2021.

MARCH 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Ryan Aguilar - Nearing spring debut Aguilar (oblique) is expected to begin playing in spring games next week, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register reports.

Impact Aguilar has been eased into action this spring because of a mild oblique strain, and he's been doing most of his workouts on the minor-league side of Angels camp. The 28-year-old is almost certainly headed for Triple-A Salt Lake to open the 2023 campaign after going 3-for-22 (.136) with 14 strikeouts in his first taste of MLB action last season.

MARCH 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

José Marte - To throw bullpen Sunday Marte (general soreness) is scheduled for another bullpen session Sunday, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register reports.

Impact If that workout goes well, the next step could be his Cactus League debut. Marte, 26, has been brought along slowly this spring due to general soreness. He has also surrendered 14 runs -- 13 earned -- in 15 career major-league innings and will probably be ticketed for Triple-A Salt Lake out of camp.

MARCH 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Trout leads US in WBC at apex of stellar baseball career

Mike Trout was asked to be a part of this U.S. team for the World Baseball Classic

MARCH 10, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Assessing the Angels' solid but imperfect options at shortstop Gio Urshela, David Fletcher and other candidates can play shortstop but haven’t done so throughout most of their careers.

MARCH 10, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Shohei Ohtani - Opens WBC in fine fashion Ohtani pitched four scoreless innings for Japan against China in the World Baseball Classic on Thursday, allowing one hit and no walks while striking out five batters. He also went...

Impact Ohtani unsurprisingly starred for Team Japan in the squad's 8-1 victory, as he once again demonstrated his immense talent both on the mound and at the plate. This was the second time he's started a game as a pitcher this spring, with the other being in a Cactus League contest March 1 during which he hurled 2.1 scoreless frames. Where Ohtani is being drafted in fantasy is partly dependent on how he's able to be utilized, but he's unlikely to fall out of the first round in any format.

MARCH 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

LABR AL recap: Do-it-all fantasy talents come at a premium in 2023 draft In this year's AL auction, five-category studs went for top dollar, Shohei Ohtani sparked a furious bidding war and mid-tier pitchers offere...

MARCH 10, 2023 • USATODAY.COM

How did Angels attack Trout? Pitch him 'outside, way outside' TEMPE, Ariz. -- When Mike Trout signed his 12-year, $426.5 million contract before the 2019 season, his intention was to play for the Angels...

MARCH 9, 2023 • MLB.COM

Retired Pujols believes moving into coaching `will happen'

Retired slugger Albert Pujols believes he has a future in coaching but isn't in a hurry to get there

MARCH 9, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

WBC Daily: Australia, Italy lead underdog upsets; Ohtani shines

We recap an exciting day of World Baseball Classic action, from Shohei Ohtani showing off on the mound and at the plate to exciting victorie...

MARCH 9, 2023