Angels Designate Jordan Romano For Assignment, Select Joey Lucchesi
The Angels introduced a sequence of strikes earlier than Sunday’s matchup in opposition to the Royals, essentially the most notable of which was designating nearer Jordan Romano for task. The membership chosen left-hander Joey Lucchesi to take his spot. Right-hander Shaun Anderson was additionally designated for task, and righty Jose Fermin was recalled. On the hitting facet, catcher Logan O’Hoppe was positioned on the 10-day IL with a fractured wrist. Sebastian Rivero was recalled to exchange O’Hoppe.
Injuries to Ben Joyce, Robert Stephensonand Kirby Yates thrust Romano into the nearer position to start the yr. He initially excelled as the popular ninth inning choice, choosing up 4 saves over six scoreless appearances to open the marketing campaign. Romano permitted simply two baserunners throughout that stretch, each coming through stroll.
The wheels got here off from there. Romano had a disastrous sequence in opposition to the Yankees that included 5 earned runs, two blown saves, and just one out recorded. He briefly recovered in two lower-leverage outings, then blew up for 4 earned runs in a blowout in opposition to the Royals on Saturday. Romano was pulled mid-inning for infielder Adam Frazier.
Romano emerged as one of many prime closers within the recreation with the Blue Jays. He has piled up 95 saves from 2021 to 2023, incomes a pair of All-Star picks. Elbow accidents ruined his 2024 season, and he is by no means been the identical since then. Romano had an 8.23 ERA for the Phillies final yr. He got here to the Angels on a modest one-year, $2MM deal. His time with the staff is over after simply eight innings.
Lucchesi joined the group in late March after getting launched by the Giants. He ended up breaking camp with the Angels. The veteran lefty allowed a pair of earned runs over three appearances. He walked 4 and struck out two throughout 2 1/3 innings. Lucchesi was designated for task and elected free company in early April, however returned to the group on a minor league deal.
Fermin was up and down with the massive league membership for almost all of 2025. He put collectively a mid-4.00s ERA with a stable 25.7% strikeout price throughout 40 appearances. Fermin has an enormous fastball, however management has been a problem. The righty posted a hefty 15.1% stroll price in 34 1/3 innings.
Anderson was knocked round for 11 earned runs in 9 appearances out of the bullpen. The 31-year-old was equally ineffective throughout his time with the membership final yr. He didn’t break camp with the staff, however was within the majors earlier than the top of March. Lucchesi will seemingly step into Anderson’s multi-inning position.
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