SEATTLE — The Angels are going to use the final two weeks of the season to see what they have in Denzer Guzman.
Guzman, one of the Angels’ top prospects, was promoted to the big leagues for his major-league debut on Saturday. The 21-year-old plays shortstop and third base. He was in the lineup at shortstop on Saturday because Zach Neto is still day-to-day with a sore hand.
“It means a lot to me,” Guzman said through an interpreter. “I’ve been dreaming about this since I was a kid. We were working for this. And I’m happy I’m here.”
Guzman hit .247 with a .769 OPS this season, splitting his time between Double-A and Triple-A. He was promoted to Triple-A last month, and he hit .262 with an .820 OPS and six home runs in 36 games at Salt Lake.
The Angels should have the opportunity to give Guzman regular playing time at shortstop and third, because both Neto and third baseman Yoán Moncada are dealing with physical issues.
The Angels also brought up second baseman Christian Moore after a two-week stint at Triple-A.
Moore was sent down when he was hitting .195 with a .623 OPS. He only hit .175 with a .561 OPS in the 10 games he played at Triple-A, but he said he returned after finding “happiness, joy in the game” again.
“It was definitely good to go down to Triple-A to get a breather, reset my mind a little bit,” Moore said. “Find my roots again. Figured out why I got here in the first place, I feel like my head’s a little more clear now, and I kind of just play ball and just have fun for us, for how many weeks we’ve got up here.”
The Angels designated infielder Scott Kingery for assignment to open up a spot on the 40-man roster and active roster for Guzman. The Angels already needed to put Guzman on the 40-man roster this winter to protect him from the Rule 5 draft, so they aren’t costing themselves any roster flexibility by putting him in the majors now.
They optioned Matthew Lugo to open a spot for Moore.
NO NETO
Neto was out of the lineup for the second straight day, still bothered by a sore left hand.
“I still feel sore,” Neto said. “It’s one of those day-to-day things. Today, I’m not in the lineup. Available if they need me.”
Neto was first hurt when he was hit by a pitch on Aug. 20, and since then there have been a few points, either at the plate or in the field, when he’s aggravated the injury. He hurt his hand on a swing Thursday night.
CHANCE FOR GOINS
Bench coach Ryan Goins is serving as the Angels’ manager for the final two games in Seattle because interim manager Ray Montgomery is away for a funeral.
“Definitely nervous, anxious leading up to it, because you know it’s coming,” Goins said. “Less anxious today, obviously preparing for the game. You know what you wanna do. The nerves are real. Like you’re playing again. Kind of like when you make your big league debut, like Guzman’s gonna do.”
NOTES
First baseman Nolan Schanuel (left wrist bone bruise) is working out in Arizona, but the Angels aren’t sure when he’ll be back. “That’s going to be something for Nolan,” Goins said. “How it feels. It’s going to be a pain tolerance thing. It’s something that he’s going to have to get through.” …
Jo Adell returned to the starting lineup on Saturday after missing four of the previous five games with vertigo. Adell was able to pinch-hit on Friday night. …
The Angels still do not have any news to release on left-hander Reid Detmers, who underwent an MRI on Thursday.
UP NEXT
Angels (RHP Kyle Hendricks, 7-9, 4.58 ERA) at Mariners (RHP George Kirby, 8-7, 4.56 ERA), Sunday, 1:10 p.m., FDSN West, 830 AM
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