The Los Angeles Angels called up Kolton Ingram from Double-A Rocket City on Thursday and optioned Jimmy Herget to Triple-A Salt Lake.
The Angels have used a number of Minor League options to help out their Major League roster, including Zach Neto, Ben Joyce, Sam Bachman and Chase Silseth. Manager Phil Nevin has navigated the influx fairly well, attempting to use them in optimal spots.
As Ingram is now at the Major League level for the first time, Nevin expressed optimism surrounding what the lefty is bringing to the Angels bullpen, per Jeff Fletcher of the O.C. Register:
Nevin said Ingram’s “velocity has ticked up here in the last few outings, throwing a lot of strikes. Kind of the exact same things we heard about Soriano and Bachman and Joyce. Looking forward to seeing him pitch.”
The longest-tenured player in Trash Panda’s history has posted a 2.63 ERA, 3.64 FIP, 1.32 WHIP in 27.1 innings pitched this season. Ingram was drafted in the 37th round in the 2019 Draft, and making the jump from Double-A to the Major League roster is quite the accomplishment:
Ingram said he got the news on the team bus late on Wednesday night.
“The whole bus erupted,” he said. “It’s pretty special.”
Ingram has the lowest bar of expectation in what he can bring to the bullpen, and it’s hard to ignore the 16.1% walk rate in his Minor League career. Issues aside, the rookie couldn’t be happier about receiving the call-up:
He said he “woke up a lot of people” to give them the news, and about a dozen of his friends and family members made it to Arlington.
With Matt Moore still out with injury, and Tucker Davidson being primarily used in long relief, Ingram and Aaron Loup are the only regular lefty options. The Angels have posted a collective 3.35 bullpen ERA, good for fifth in baseball and fourth in the American League.
Matt Moore makes progress, Ben Joyce travels with Angels
Moore’s 3.73 FIP and .155 batting average allowed made him one of Nevin’s most trusted options at the backend. He recently threw off flat ground for his second straight day, a solid step forward for his rehab.
His initial stay on the injured list was retroactive to May 25, but with obliques being as tricky as they are, the Angels aren’t rushing him back to action.
Joyce on the other hand is a different case, after feeling a ‘tingling’ sensation in his right hand. MRI results showed no structural damage in his right elbow, a best-case scenario for the rookie reliever.
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