The Angels announced Thursday evening that they’ve placed infielder Zack Cozart on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to April 24) due to a neck strain. In his place, the Halos have recalled infielder Luis Rengifo for his big league debut.
Cozart, 33, signed a three-year contract with the Halos prior to the 2018 season but, to this point, has had much of his Halos tenure ruined by injuries. A shoulder subluxation last year limited Cozart to just 58 games last season, and his output when healthy enough to take the field, was nowhere near his brilliant 2017 levels. In 253 plate appearances last year, Cozart hit only .219/.296/.362, and his 2019 line of .109/.157/.125 is markedly worse.
Cozart’s injury occurred when he collided with DJ LeMahieu upon diving back into the second base bag a couple of nights ago. There’s no word from the Angels organization yet on how long he’s going to be sidelined.
In place of Cozart, the Angels are turning to the 22-year-old Rengifo — a prospect widely regarded as one of the ten best in a dramatically improved Halos farm system. The Venezuelan-born Rengifo skyrocketed three levels through the system last year, hitting .299/.399/.452 with seven homers and a whopping 41 stolen bases along the way.
The switch-hitting Rengifo’s scouting reports at Fangraphs and MLB.com laud his above-average speed and give him average to above-average marks in terms of hit tool, glove and throwing arm. He’s off to a slow start in 2019, hitting .240/.284/.387 through 81 plate appearances. He’ll join an Angels infield mix that has Andrelton Simmons entrenched at shortstop, with David Fletcher and Tommy La Stella serving as options at second base and third base.
Cozart is another player who can’t hit outside of Cincinnati. I called it two years ago. Buyer beware on him. I got called dumb and I know nothing about baseball. Well I can say I called it. But I’m sure people will just call me a pier.
Here’s a cookie for your efforts.
You proved people wrong on a message board. Congrats.
Amen brother. 100% agreed
You’re a big fat Pier!
Pier, Pier, Lants on fire!!!
He couldn’t hit in Cincinnati. He had one productive offensive season before he hit free agency. This was a predictably poor signing to expect this guy to be a quality 3B. That bat was not going to play there.
A broken clock is right twice a day….
Eppler ought to take some advice from that broken clock because it’s been right more than he has parlaying into FA….
I’m sure they’ll miss his .282 OPS.
Watched Rengifo play in High-A ball just last season. Not surprised he’s already made the bigs.
Awesome. I’m excited at the opportunity to see him play. Hopefully we get to see a few more debues in what has been a depressing season thus far.
Getting Rengifo from Tampa bay for Cron was an absolute steal.
Yes indeed. Rivals Buttrey for Kinsler as the biggest stealth pickup by Eppler. One of the apparent changes he has brought is his staff is more adept at analyzing the skills on the minor leaguers they’re getting in trades.
Kinda stoked Rengifo is getting brought up now and not later in the year. This season is unfortunately gonna be a bust for our Halos so why not bring up a fair amount of minor leaguers and give them some looks like Jo Adell, Griffin Canning, Jahmai Jones…the guys that will likely be helping Trout snag a ring eventually. Been to a couple games already this season and the energy is LACKING in the crowd and on the field, let’s give the young guns a whirl and make a few trades or something ey? Who’s with me fellas?
Canning will probably get called up sometime this season from SLC, as Rengifo was, but most of the future (Adell [who is dealing with his leg injuries from ST], Marsh, Jones, etc) is at AA or High-A, and it isn’t wise to rush young talent that way.
In addition, the team is going to have to make roster moves in early May when Ohtani returns, and again June/July when Upton returns. There is no upside in taking a kid who is learning by playing everyday in the minors, and having him ride the bench in MLB.
Okay and?
This is an automatic upgrade. Cozart was unplayable.
Taylor Ward injured?
probably…more than likely….of course he is
Ward isn’t hurt they have him working on his defense at third he is actually below average defensively because he only has had one full season there. He’s hitting very well at triple a my guess is that they also didn’t want ward to run out of options either.