ANAHEIM — Although it’s only been a few days, Christian Moore has shown signs that he’s working toward plugging the biggest hole in his swing.
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Moore hit a homer on a 99 mph fastball that was up and in on Wednesday night. A night earlier, he hit a 98 mph fastball to the warning track in left, just missing a game-tying two-run homer.
“I’ve got to be able to manage the heater up and manage the four-seam in general if I want to be up here,” Moore said on Wednesday. “It’s something I’ve been trying to work on since I was sent back down the first time, and I’m glad that last night it came to fruition. I’m hoping for more swings like that. “
Moore hit .198 with a .655 OPS in 184 big league plate appearances last season, including a 34% strikeout rate. This season, his only previous opportunity came in June, and he went 4 for 20 with 11 strikeouts.
Since he came back over the weekend, he’s only 2 for 16, with five strikeouts, but he’s still encouraged by moments like those swings the previous two nights.
“A lot of it is understanding where the top of your zone is,” Moore said. “For me, it was big on the posture stuff. Losing posture was something I was doing. I’m hoping I can regain my posture and keep it throughout my entire swing.”
CAMPERO TO IL
Outfielder Gustavo Campero was placed on the injured list with a strained hamstring, and the Angels called up outfielder Bryce Teodosio.
The Angels still don’t know how serious Campero’s injury is, manager Kurt Suzuki said.
Teodosio started this season in the majors, hitting .213 with a .515 OPS. At Triple-A, he was hitting .271 with a .782 OPS.
Teodosio is an elite defensive outfielder. Suzuki said they wanted to have his defense, particularly with Mike Trout needing some DH days.
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Kyren Paris, who was also a candidate to get the call, is hitting .289 with a .957 OPS at Triple-A. Paris has played a lot of outfield over the past couple of years, but he’s still not a true outfielder, like Teodosio. This season he’s only played 29 games in the outfield. Suzuki said they haven’t closed the door on Paris as an outfielder.
A NEW ARM
The Angels optioned left-hander Blake Weiman and promoted right-hander Trevor Martin to refresh the bullpen.
Martin, 25, was claimed on waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays earlier this month. A 2022 third-round pick from Oklahoma State, Martin has appeared in six games this season with the Rays, allowing five earned runs in 11⅓ innings, with seven strikeouts. He pitched twice with Triple-A Salt Lake, allowing two unearned runs in 4 ⅔ innings. He struck out six, but he walked five.
“He’s got five pitches and he has good stuff,” Suzuki said. “He gives us some flexibility down there to go multi-innings, which is important for us, obviously. It’d be good to have his arm down there.”
The Angels, who currently have six starting pitchers, could return to eight relievers next Tuesday, when rosters expand from 13 to 14 pitchers.
NOTES
Left-hander Samy Natera Jr. (back) came through his bullpen session on Tuesday well enough that he’s scheduled to pitch in a minor league game on Friday. Natera is eligible to come off the injured list on Tuesday. …
Outfielder Wade Meckler, who is on the concussion IL, was set to play for Rancho Cucamonga on Wednesday night. Meckler would be eligible to return on Friday. …
First baseman Nolan Schanuel (intercostal strain) did some agility drills on the field before Wednesday’s game.
UP NEXT
Phillies (RHP Andrew Painter, 3-8, 6.04) at Angels (LHP Reid Detmers, 4-8, 3.62), Friday, 6:38 p.m., ABTV, 830 AM
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