ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) - The Los Angeles Angels have reinstated outfielder Kole Calhoun from the 15-day disabled list and optioned left-hander Hector Santiago to Triple-A Salt Lake.
The moves were announced before Wednesday night’s series finale against the Houston Astros. Calhoun, the team’s opening day right fielder, batted .250 with three homers and six RBIs in 14 games before he sprained his right ankle running out a grounder.
Santiago began the season in manager Mike Scioscia’s rotation after he was acquired on Dec. 10 in a three-way trade with the White Sox and Diamondbacks in which slugger Mark Trumbo went to Arizona. But Santiago was demoted to the bullpen after going 0-6 with a 5.19 ERA in seven starts, and has made only two relief appearances since then.
“Hector is a guy that we still have high expectations for,” Scioscia said. “He’s pitched some better baseball here than maybe his numbers showed, but the overriding issue with Hector is for him to find his delivery, repeat pitches and get that continuity and consistency he had in the spring.”
Santiago has retired all eight batters he’s faced in his two relief appearances since his last start on May 7, when he lasted just 2 1-3 innings in 9-2 loss to the Yankees at Angel Stadium. Before he departed for Utah, he met with Scioscia, pitching coach Mike Butcher and general manager Jerry Dipoto.
“Hector was very receptive and he has a good frame of mind,” Scioscia said. “I think the two innings he threw out here the other night (Monday against Houston) were about as good, mechanically, as we’ve seen since spring training. And now he has to multiply that by three.”
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