Notebook: Callup for Detmers a possibility

Angels first-round Draft pick Reid Detmers is continuing to get stretched out at the club’s alternate site in Long Beach and manager Joe Maddon said Monday that he wouldn’t rule out Detmers making his Major League debut later this season.

Detmers, 21, was considered the most polished left-hander in the 2020 Draft and the Angels selected him with the No. 10 overall pick out of the University of Louisville. He’s been training at Long Beach since the start of Summer Camp and he could be a late season callup.

“It's not out of the question that he may be able to help us this year,” Maddon said. “Regarding next year, with a full Minor League system operating, who knows? It's just a matter of functionality of the entire organization, I think, and how you're going to react and treat your better Minor League players. I don't know that answer right now.”

Detmers, rated the team's No. 3 prospect and No. 87 overall, said he’s enjoyed pitching professionally this year in Long Beach and that he’s been leaning on his teammates to help him. After consulting with teammates and coaches, he changed his slider grip to more of a knuckle-slider that gives him extra velocity and a sharper break than his previous slider, which was more of a slurve. He also has been asking opposing hitters about his stuff and what he can do to get better.

Detmers has been pitching every five days and is stretched out to four innings. He’s scheduled to pitch again on Tuesday and believes he’s ready for whenever the Angels decide to call him up.

"I think I'm mentally ready and getting physically ready," Detmers said. "Obviously I've only thrown five innings so far here, but I think my arm is in good enough shape right now to have success in the big leagues."

Simmons update

Shortstop Andrelton Simmons remains sidelined with his sprained left ankle, as he still feels soreness during defensive drills. Simmons has been taking grounders and batting practice at Angel Stadium but isn’t quite to the point where he’s ready to be activated from the injured list. But Simmons could rejoin the club at some point during this week's home-and-home series with the Giants if things continue to improve.

"He's doing better,” Maddon said. “The big thing when he's doing these kind of things is how do you feel the next day? And so when we feel comfortable, when he feels comfortable, the athletic training staff feels comfortable, then he'll be fair to go. I don't think it's in the distant future.”

Angels tidbits

• Designated hitter Shohei Ohtani was not in the lineup on Monday with left-hander Tyler Anderson starting for the Giants. Maddon said he’s looked at video and is trying to help Ohtani find his swing after going 2-for-15 over his previous four games.

“I just want to get him a day to work, to really try to solidify some of the things he's doing in the box,” Maddon said. “I just wanted him to just chill a little bit, relax a little bit, work on some things and get him right back out there. Left-handed pitcher was a good time to do it. I just thought everything added up to giving him a day to just work on things and clear his head a little bit."

• Reliever Cam Bedrosian has been playing catch but still isn’t close to returning from his right adductor strain. Bedrosian will continue his throwing program until he’s ready to throw off a mound.

"He's doing better but I can tell he's not 100 percent,” Maddon said. “I asked him that specifically, how are we doing? ... Good, better, but it's still in that waiting stage."

• Catcher Jason Castro was held out of the lineup for a fourth straight game with neck stiffness. Max Stassi started all four games in Castro’s absence. Castro doesn’t appear headed to the injured list and is day to day.

“I didn't see him yet today but he was doing even better yesterday,” Maddon said Monday. “We'll see what we got going into tomorrow."