Signed as an undrafted free agent in the summer of 2018, Michael Stefanic joined the Los Angeles Angels farm system at the age of 22. He worked his way up from rookie ball, and this past season he made his Major League debut.
Stefanic played his college ball at Westmont in Santa Barbara, Calif., where he excelled in his final season, batting .392/.463/.538 over 52 games in his final season. Stefanic has never been a power bat, but he made his waves through on-base percentage while limiting his strikeouts.
He carried those batter characteristics through the Minor Leagues, but in his first 25 games in MLB, Stefanic struggled to continue his high level of success in getting on base. But those bumps are to be expected from a young prospect in his first taste of pro ball.
In 69 plate appearances, Stefanic batted .197/.279/.230, recording two doubles, and five walks. The infielder was needed for two stops with the Angels, for the entire month of July and the mid-to-back half of September when the club could carry some extra players needed to cover their depleted roster due to mounting injuries.
From Sept. 16 to Oct. 1, Stefanic notched a decent run, posting a .263 batting average and a .300 OBP in 21 plate appearances. After being called up for his second go at it, Angels manager Phil Nevin expressed his optimism over his semi-revamped approach.
The Angels protected Stefanic from the 2022 Rule 5 draft by adding him to their 40-man roster.
Michael Stefanic 2022 highlight
Stefanic’s best game at the Major League level came on July 10 in a 9-5 loss to the Baltimore Orioles. The infielder posted two hits in two at-bats while also drawing two walks and scoring a run. At the Minor League level, he had four hits including a double and two RBI on April 9.
2023 outlook
Stefanic is currently on a two-way contract with the Angels, meaning his salary is based upon which level in the Angels organization he winds up in. With the possibility of injury that’s been heightened in recent years, the veteran infielder will likely see time at the Major League level at some point.
He will continue to serve as organizational depth, but he was pushed down the depth chart by the Angels’ aggressive offseason, and it would not be surprising to see the club move on from him at some point.
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