Angels' Michael Stefanic: Resumes baseball activity
Rotowire
Stefanic (quadriceps) has resumed light baseball activity at the Angels' training complex in Arizona, MLB.com reports.
Stefanic landed on the injured list March 28 after feeling discomfort in his left quad during the Angels' first spring training game. He initially resumed running and baseball activity but suffered a setback in mid-March and subsequently underwent an MRI that revealed a quad strain. It's unclear how long Stefanic will be out of action, and there's no guarantee that he'll have a spot on the big-league roster once he's ready to return.
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Angels' Michael Stefanic: Lands on 10-day IL
Rotowire
The Angels placed Stefanic (quadricep) on the 10-day injured list Thursday.
Stefanic initially strained his left quad in late February and suffered a setback last week. It's not clear at this point how long the utility infielder might be sidelined.
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Angels' Michael Stefanic: Shut down following MRI
Rotowire
Stefanic has been shut down from baseball activities after an MRI on his left quad came back worse than expected, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
Stefanic had an MRI after still feeling discomfort in the quad during a running drill and the test revealed the bad news. It's not clear how long this might set the infielder back, but a stint on the injured list to begin the season seems assured.
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Angels' Michael Stefanic: Making progress, return date TBD
Rotowire
Stefanic (quadricep) will take live batting practice and take part in running work Wednesday, but the Angels haven't provided a timeline for him to return to the Cactus League lineup, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
Stefanic seems to be making good progress in his recovery from the left quad strain that cut short his first Cactus League start back on Feb. 24, but he still looks to be at least a few days away from being ready to return to game action. If Stefanic is able to shake off the injury prior to Opening Day, he could remain in the mix for a backup infield role to begin the season.
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Angels' Michael Stefanic: Resumes baseball activity
Rotowire
Stefanic (quadricep) was cleared to resume baseball activities Wednesday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
Stefanic had been resting for the previous three days after he suffered a left quad strain in Saturday's Cactus League game against the Dodgers. Given the brevity of his shutdown period, Stefanic likely won't require too much time to get ramped back up, so he could rejoin the spring lineup within the next few days.
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Angels' Michael Stefanic: Exits with quad strain
Rotowire
Stefanic left Saturday's Cactus League game against the Dodgers early due to a left quad strain, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
The severity of Stefanic's injury is unknown, but the Angels will likely have more information following Saturday's contest. Stefanic slashed .290/.380/.355 across 71 plate appearances last season with Los Angeles and found consistent success in Triple-A as well, but his chances at making the big-league roster out of camp may take a significant hit if he's forced to miss a large portion of spring training.
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Angels' Michael Stefanic: Out of lineup
Rotowire
Stefanic will sit Saturday against Oakland, Erica Weston of Bally Sports West reports.
Stefanic sits after starting nine straight games, a run in which he hit .419/.471/.516. Mike Moustakas will take over at third base.
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Angels' Michael Stefanic: Getting regular run in infield
Rotowire
Stefanic will start at second base and bat ninth in Monday's game against the Rangers, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
He'll stick in the lineup for the sixth game in a row and appears poised to receive steady playing time over the final week of the regular season in what could amount to an audition for an everyday role heading into the 2023 campaign. Since being called up from Triple-A Salt Lake a week ago, Stefanic has gone 8-for-18 with a double, a walk, a run and an RBI.
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Angels' Michael Stefanic: Back in big leagues
Rotowire
Stefanic was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake on Monday.
Stefanic was optioned to Triple-A nearly two weeks ago, but he'll return to the Angels after Kyren Paris (thumb) was placed on the 60-day IL and Jordyn Adams was sent down. Stefanic is slashing .148/.303/.185 with three RBI and four runs scored through 14 games this year.
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Angels' Michael Stefanic: Returns to minors
Rotowire
Stefanic was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake on Wednesday.
Stefanic was recalled by the Halos on Friday and will return to Salt Lake after going 0-for-6 with two walks and a run in three games during the brief stint in the majors. The 27-year-old has a .488 OPS in 33 big-league plate appearances this season.
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Angels' Michael Stefanic: Recalled from Triple-A
Rotowire
The Angels recalled Stefanic from Triple-A Salt Lake on Friday.
Stefanic will likely operate as a backup on the Angels' infield as he returns to the majors with rosters expanding from 26 to 28. The 27-year-old carries a .195/.290/.232 career slash line in 94 plate appearances at baseball's highest level.
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Angels' Michael Stefanic: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
Stefanic was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake on Tuesday.
Stefanic has always been known for a strong hit tool and little else, and while he hit .349 at Triple-A this season, he only hit .190 with zero home runs in 25 MLB plate appearances. He was replaced on the active roster by Jordyn Adams.
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Angels' Michael Stefanic: Recalled from Triple-A
Rotowire
Stefanic was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake on Friday and is starting at second base and batting ninth against the Astros.
With Anthony Rendon (shin), Brandon Drury (shoulder) and David Fletcher out of the picture in the short term, Stefanic could get steady work. The 27-year-old hit .349 with more walks than strikeouts and two home runs in 300 plate appearances this season in the Pacific Coast League. He can play second base and third base.
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Angels' Michael Stefanic: Short stay in majors
Rotowire
Stefanic was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake on Saturday, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.
Stefanic was recalled by the Angels after the team suffered a flurry of injuries along the infield. However, the team acquired Eduardo Escobar from the Mets and promoted David Fletcher from Salt Lake, leaving Stefanic without a spot on the roster. He collected two hits across seven at-bats with the Angels.
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Angels' Michael Stefanic: Collects two hits in season debut
Rotowire
Stefanic went 2-for-4 with a double, a run and an RBI in a loss to Kansas City on Saturday.
Stefanic was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake on Friday after slashing .347/.446/.449 over 259 plate appearances with the minor-league club. He got the start at second base for the Angels on Saturday and was one of four players on the team with multiple hits, one of which was a sixth-inning double that resulted in his first big-league RBI. It remains to be seen how often Stefanic will play, and he struggled with a .197/.279/.230 slash line over 69 plate appearances in his first cup of coffee in the majors last season. However, he's a .318 career hitter in the minors (albeit with mediocre power and speed), so his bat could eventually help him carve out a role as an on-base specialist capable of playing multiple positions.
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Angels' Michael Stefanic: Recalled from Triple-A
Rotowire
Stefanic was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake on Friday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
Stefanic is slashing a PCL-inflated .347/.446/.449 with two homers and five stolen bases for Salt Lake this season. The utility player is capable of filling in all over the field but doesn't figure to play much for the Halos.
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Angels' Michael Stefanic: Sporting season-long on-base streak
Rotowire
Stefanic is slashing .331/.438/.416 through 42 games this season with Triple-A Salt Lake, and he's reached base in every contest in which he's played.
Stefanic's on-base streak is actually at 51 extending back to last season, when he hit .314 with a .422 on-base percentage for the Triple-A club. The 27-year-old has proven to be a difficult out with a .401 OBP across 364 career minor-league contests, though he struggled in his first taste of the majors last year, slashing .197/.279/.230 over 69 plate appearances. Stefanic's ability to reach base could earn him another chance in the big leagues at some point, but his absence of power and speed limit his appeal as a future fantasy asset.
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Angels' Michael Stefanic: Optioned to minors
Rotowire
Stefanic was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake on Saturday.
Stefanic got a modest look in his first taste of MLB action last season, logging 69 plate appearances over 25 games. However, he managed a meager .197/.279/.230 slash line, well off the .314/.422/.425 line he posted at the Triple-A level. Stefanic is an extreme contact hitter but offers little in the way of power or speed, so he doesn't figure to ever be an impactful fantasy asset. The Angels have multiple infielders returning from injury this season and also added Brandon Drury and Gio Urshela in the offseason, so Stefanic faces a difficult path back to the big leagues.
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Angels' Michael Stefanic: On bench again
Rotowire
Stefanic is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rangers, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
Stefanic will sit for the third game in a row and appears to have lost out on an everyday role in the middle infield to fellow rookie Livan Soto. The 26-year-old rookie has gotten off to a disappointing start to his big-league career, producing a .459 OPS through his first 57 plate appearances with the Angels.
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Angels' Michael Stefanic: Garners third straight start
Rotowire
Stefanic will start at second base and bat eighth in Sunday's game against the Mariners, Sarah Valenzuela of the Los Angeles Times reports.
The rookie finds himself in the lineup for a third straight contest and should have a fairly clear path to an everyday role in the middle infield after David Fletcher (hand) was placed on the injured list Saturday. Through his first 53 big-league plate appearances, Stefanic is hitting .191 with one extra-base hit (a double) and a 4:10 BB:K.
