The Angels have selected the contract of infielder Jose Miguel Fernandez, as Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times tweets. Fernandez will take the active roster spot vacated by Shohei Ohtani, who’s heading to the disabled list with a UCL sprain.
The organization also announced another roster tweak. Infielder Nolan Fontana was recalled to join the active roster. He’ll take the place of Kaleb Cowart, who’s headed to the DL with an ankle sprain.
Fernandez, a former Cuban star who’s now thirty years of age, will come up to the majors for the first time in his career. He spent most of last year playing at Double-A with the Dodgers organization and landed with the Halos on a minor-league pact after being released.
Long known for his plate discipline — in his last full season in Cuba’s Serie Nacional, way back in 2013-14, he drew 65 walks and struck out only ten times — Fernandez has been a force at the plate in the upper minors. This year, he’s slashing .345/.412/.562 with ten home runs and a 19:20 K/BB ratio over 226 plate appearances at the Triple-A level.
Fernandez will get the start at first base tonight in his debut. He has split his time evenly between first, second, and third at Salt Lake, so he’ll be another option around the diamond. Fontana is an even more versatile infielder, as he can also play shortstop. He’s carrying a .282/.436/.493 batting line with twenty walks against 18 strikeouts in 95 plate appearances this year at the Halos’ top affiliate.
Sweet!
Dude!
This guy has killed triple a pitching this year. He could be an exciting boost to the lineup in the wake of Ohtani
Hopefully Fernandez continues his success into the majors, and hopefully he can avoid Scioscia benching him after a good game.
I keep waiting for them to call up David Fletcher too but we aren’t likely to see that unless something happens to Kinsler or Valbuena. He could be our everyday 2B next year with the way he is playing in AAA right now.
I’ve wanted him to come up and replace either Kinsler or Valbuena for a while now. This was definitely not the roster spot I wanted him to take, though.
Why was this guy stuck in the minors so long?
This is only his second season in the minors…
It’s still weird. And even weirder that the Dodgers released him after he posted solid numbers for them last year. I guess we will see how he does
Well they released him because of a contractual clause in which he had to be added to the 40 man. The problem is the Dodgers had Bellinger (Rios other 1b options) and no DH so they didn’t really have a spot for him. Defensively he’s not very good so there was no real room for him. He can swing, the power profile will be interesting.
Angels have to have the worst luck with starting pitchers seems like every year they two or more go down with Injuries
the Dodgers would disagree
The Rays would disagree more
I think the Mets would too!
I miss Jose Fernandez #JF16
We all do.