MINNEAPOLIS — Players in the Dominican Republic can sign professional contracts once they turn 16, so it’s rare for a team to find anyone worthwhile who is much older than that.
That’s why José Fermin’s ascent to the big leagues is so intriguing.
The Angels signed Fermin just before his 22nd birthday, in October 2023, for a $10,000 bonus.
On Saturday, the Angels promoted the right-hander to the major leagues for the first time.
“Credit to (international scouting director) Brian Parker and his group,” Angels general manager Perry Minasian said Saturday. “They’re always trying to find talent, no matter what the age is. We’ve seen instances where guys might be passed over at an early age and develop later. And I believe this is one of those stories. We’ll see how he does.”
Fermin, 23, came straight from Double-A, after starting the season with eight dominant innings, striking out 15 and walking one. Fermin, who is 6-foot-3 and 242 pounds, had allowed one run on three hits.
Last season, Fermin pitched at three levels, with a combined 3.15 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 65⅔ innings.
Fermin was part of the Angels’ second bullpen shakeup of the week. Right-handers Victor Mederos and Carl Edwards Jr., who were each added to the roster Wednesday, were removed Saturday. Mederos was optioned to Triple-A and Edwards was designated for assignment.
The Angels also called up left-hander Jake Eder, who was acquired in a trade with the Chicago White Sox earlier this month.
Eder, 26, was a fourth-round pick out of Vanderbilt in 2020. He had impressive numbers early in his minor-league career, but he had Tommy John surgery in 2022, and he hasn’t performed as well since.
In three starts in Triple-A since the Angels acquired him, Eder has allowed six earned runs in nine innings, with 13 strikeouts and three walks.
Eder gives the Angels’ bullpen the kind of multi-inning coverage they needed after starter Kyle Hendricks lasted just three innings Friday night. Edwards and Mederos finished that game.
Mederos gave up two runs in his first inning, but then tacked on two scoreless innings.
Manager Ron Washington said he was encouraged by his overall performance in contrast to last season. Mederos allowed seven runs and six walks in 5⅓ innings in two big-league games last season.
“He was very aggressive last night,” Washington said. “They did a good job of laying off his sinker, because his sinker was diving down real good. And you just have to make that adjustment where that sinker can start somewhere else, where he can get some swings. But I like his aggressiveness on the mound last night compared to what we saw last year.”
RENGIFO UPDATE
Third baseman Luis Rengifo had three hits Friday night, which raised his average to .225 and his OPS to .570.
“I think it was his best game as far as getting hits, but you got to start somewhere,” Washington said. “I hope that’s a start of what we are going to see moving forward.”
Washington said Rengifo still looks “a little slow getting to the ball,” which is partly because he’s still making up for the time he lost in spring training with an illness and a hamstring injury.
Rengifo, 28, is a free agent at the end of the season, so he stands to earn significant money if he has a good year. Over the previous three seasons, Rengifo hit .273 with a .754 OPS.
NOTES
Tim Anderson got his second straight start at second base Saturday. Washington said he’s trying to get Anderson’s bat going, so he can be more useful as a pinch-hitter. He said he’ll return Kyren Paris to the starting lineup Sunday. …
Mike Trout (nine homers) and Logan O’Hoppe (seven) are one of just three duos in the majors who each have at least seven homers. The others are Aaron Judge and Jazz Chisholm with the New York Yankees and Tyler Soderstrom and Brent Rooker with the Athletics.
UP NEXT
Angels (RHP José Soriano, 2-3, 4.34) at Twins (RHP Joe Ryan, 1-2, 4.00), 10:40 a.m. PT Sunday, FanDuel Sports Network West, 830 AM
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