ANAHEIM — When Christian Moore returned to the Angels active roster on Sunday, the Angels’ finally had one of those problems that teams like to have.
It marked the first time this season that Moore, Luis Rengifo and Yoán Moncada were all active at the same time.
Moore plays second, Moncada plays third and Rengifo plays either. On Sunday, Moncada was the odd man out, starting the game on the bench.
Interim manager Ray Montgomery said one of the ways they would manage the “three for two” situation is by playing Rengifo occasionally in the outfield.
Montgomery said Rengifo can play all three spots, but he indicated he’s most likely to play right, with Bryce Teodosio or Jo Adell in center. Teodosio is an elite defensive center fielder, so the Angels would like to give him as much time as possible in that spot for the overall outfield defense.
Rengifo has played 33 big league games in right, four in center and eight in left.
“We’ve put him out there in the past before, and he’s got a really nice way about him,” Montgomery said. “Obviously you want him to get some reps, and he will, but the focus is the position he’s playing primarily first. If he has to go out there, he’s been fine.”
At the plate, Rengifo has been one of the Angels’ hotter hitters over the past couple months. He’s hit .285 with a .347 on-base percentage and a .758 OPS since June 13.
Moncada is hitting .214, but he’s drawn enough walks and hit enough homers to have a .749 OPS for the season. Moncada can’t currently hit right-handed because of limitations with his sore right knee, so that answers the question on some days. Newly acquired Oswald Peraza, a right-handed hitter who is the best defensive option at third, could also start.
Moore was hitting .189 with a .698 OPS before he sprained his left thumb a month ago. He was 5 for 11 with two doubles and a homer in four rehab games at Class-A Inland Empire.
“Just try to see as many pitches as I could, and just get comfortable back in the box,” Moore said.
Moore said defense was more of an issue with thumb injury. He is going to wear a protective thumb brace inside his glove. Moore said a few plays on the rehab assignment tested his thumb, and he came through them confident.
“I dove for a couple balls, probably two or three,” Moore said. “The first one was a little scary, but you get over it. Once you do, you know you’re OK.”
WHAT ABOUT TROUT?
Mike Trout returned to the lineup on Sunday after missing the previous two games with an illness.
Trout was sent home before Friday’s game. Although he remained at the ballpark on Saturday, he was not well enough to pinch-hit, Montgomery said on Sunday.
The two days off apparently did not do enough for Trout’s knee to allow him to resume workouts in right field. Montgomery said that’s still on hold.
“Not at this point,” Montgomery said. “We’ll keep checking with him on it, and we’ll do the best we can. But I think right now, the focus for him, and the focus for me, is to just keep his bat in lineup and make sure we can regulate any type of additional soreness.”
Montgomery said he wouldn’t rule out Trout still getting back in the outfield before the end of the season.
“There’s no reason to say that,” Montgomery said. “We’ll continue to do what we’ve done to this point.”
NOTES
Infielder Scott Kingery was optioned to clear a spot for Moore. …
Peraza was getting some reps at first base during pregame workouts. Kevin Newman, who was designated for assignment, had been the primary backup to Nolan Schanuel at first. …
Right-hander Robert Stephenson came through Saturday’s second bullpen session “fine,” Montgomery. It was the first time in his current injured list stint that he had thrown all his pitches off a mound. Montgomery said Stephenson needs about three more bullpen sessions before he starts facing hitters. He’ll then need to get in a minor league game. …
Jorge Soler (back) is still not doing any baseball activity.
UP NEXT
Rays (RHP Adrian Houser, 6-2, 2.10) at Angels (LHP Yusei Kikuchi, 4-7, 3.30), Monday, 6:38 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network West, 830 AM
Originally Published:
