Adell included in Halos' 60-man player pool
ANAHEIM -- The Angels have set their player pool for the summer camp and it includes superstar Mike Trout, whose wife is currently pregnant with their first child. The report date at Angel Stadium is on Wednesday in preparation for the 2020 season, which will start on either July 23 or 24. The club also announced that it will be using Long Beach State’s Blair Field as its alternative training site.
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The Angels are carrying 55 of 60 possible players in their pool, leaving some flexibility to add others. Left-hander Reid Detmers, the No. 10 overall pick in the Draft, officially signed on Sunday, but is not on the current roster. No players on the roster have opted out, but there’s always a chance that could change as it gets closer to the season.
All of the club’s 40-man roster players are included in the 60-man player pool, while several top prospects are also among the 55 invitees. Outfielder Jo Adell, ranked as the club's No. 1 overall prospect by MLB Pipeline, is joined by outfielder Brandon Marsh (No. 2), outfielder Jordyn Adams (No. 3), left-hander Patrick Sandoval (No. 6), right-hander Chris Rodriguez (No. 7), second baseman Jahmai Jones (No. 8), left-hander Hector Yan (No. 12) and first baseman Jared Walsh (No. 23).
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Two-way star Shohei Ohtani is also healthy and ready to go after coming off Tommy John surgery and left knee surgery, while right-handers Griffin Canning, Félix Peña and Justin Anderson are also healthy after being limited by injuries in Spring Training.
• Angels FAQ: Details on the upcoming season
Catchers (5): Anthony Bemboom, José Briceño, Jason Castro, Jack Kruger, Max Stassi
Castro and Stassi are set to be on the 30-man roster to open the season, with Castro serving as the regular catcher. Bemboom is likely to be on the club’s taxi squad during the season, while Kruger and Briceño provide depth.
Infielders (12): Arismendy Alcántara, David Fletcher, Jahmai Jones, Tommy La Stella, Albert Pujols, Anthony Rendon, Luis Rengifo, Jose Rojas, Andrelton Simmons, Elliot Soto, Matt Thaiss, Jared Walsh
The infield will be made up of Rendon at third, Simmons at short, Pujols at first and a combination of Fletcher and La Stella at second base with Fletcher expected to also see time in the outfield. Rengifo and Thaiss are expected to be a part of the bench, but Walsh is also in that mix.
Outfielders (8): Jordyn Adams, Jo Adell, Brian Goodwin, Michael Hermosillo, Brandon Marsh, Mike Trout, Justin Upton, Taylor Ward
Upton, Trout and Goodwin make up the starting outfield with Fletcher also expected to see action in right field. Hermosillo is expected to be the primary backup outfielder, because of his ability to play center while Adell and Marsh are close to being ready for the Majors. Adell has an outside shot to make the team, but isn’t on the 40-man roster and wasn’t expected to make the original Opening Day roster. Ward gives the Angels depth while Adams is another top prospect, but further from the Majors than Adell and Marsh.
Pitchers (29): Justin Anderson, Matt Andriese, Luke Bard, Jacob Barnes, Jaime Barria, Cam Bedrosian, Ryan Buchter, Dylan Bundy, Ty Buttrey, Griffin Canning, Taylor Cole, Andrew Heaney, Kyle Keller, Parker Markel, Mike Mayers, Keynan Middleton, Hoby Milner, Félix Peña, Dillon Peters, José Quijada, Neil Ramirez, Noé Ramirez, Hansel Robles, Chris Rodriguez, José Rodriguez, Patrick Sandoval, José Suarez, Julio Teheran, Hector Yan
The Angels are expected to carry a six-man rotation, because Ohtani will be pitching once a week and serving as designated hitter roughly four to five times a week. Heaney, Bundy, Teheran and Canning are locks to be a part of the rotation while the last spot will be up for grabs with Andriese, Peña, Peters and youngsters Barria, Suarez and Sandoval in the mix. Robles remains in the closer role and the bullpen is also expected to have Anderson, Bedrosian, Buchter, Buttrey, Middleton and Noé Ramirez in it with other spots available to claim. Chris Rodriguez and Yan are both intriguing arms who aren’t likely to make the roster, but could make an impact later in the year.
Two-way players (1): Shohei Ohtani
Ohtani gets his own designation, because he’s back to being a full-time two-way player after only serving as DH last year. Ohtani won’t hit on the days he pitches and isn’t likely to on the days before and after his starts as well. But it’s still a huge boost that Ohtani is fully healthy, as he wouldn’t have been able to pitch until mid-May if the season had started as originally planned.