The Angels announced a trio of roster moves, including the news that right-hander Michael Darrell-Hicks’ contract was selected from Triple-A Salt Lake. In corresponding moves, the Angels released right-hander Hans Crouse and optioned righty Caden Dana to Triple-A.
Darrell-Hicks wasn’t selected during his draft year in 2022, but he signed a free agent deal with the Angels and is now in the majors less than three years after his college career came to an end. The 27-year-old became a full-time reliever in 2024 and had a 2.60 ERA, 26.44% strikeout rate, and a tiny 4.98% walk rate over 62 1/3 combined innings at the Double-A and Triple-A levels. Most of that success came in Double-A as Darrell-Hicks’ ERA spiked upwards in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, and the righty has a 4.15 ERA in four appearances and 4 1/3 innings of Triple-A ball this year.
MDH’s first taste of big league action will give the Halos a bit of extra bullpen depth. Dana threw 56 pitches in a three-inning relief outing on Friday, and Ryan Zeferjahn also made an early exit from Friday’s game with hamstring tightness. With two pitchers likely unavailable today, optioning Dana and calling up Darrell-Hicks gives Los Angeles a fresh arm to utilize in today’s game with the Guardians.
To add Darrell-Hicks to the 40-man roster, the Angels parted ways with Crouse, which is a little surprising given that the righty seemed to be facing an injury scare of his own. Crouse left a Triple-A outing on Thursday after just four pitches, and there hasn’t yet been any word on his status.
Crouse made his MLB debut in the form of two games with the Phillies in 2021, and didn’t return to the Show until he posted a 2.84 ERA over 25 1/3 relief innings for the Angels last season. His impressive bottom-line results were augmented by a strong 31.8% strikeout rate, though Crouse also had a 15.9% walk rate and some batted-ball luck in the form of a .231 BABIP. His control issues continued into Spring Training this year and might’ve cost Crouse a shot at the Opening Day roster.
A second-round pick for the Rangers in the 2017 draft, Crouse was a prospect of some note during his time in the Texas farm system, cracking the MLB Pipeline and Baseball America top-100 prospect rankings prior to the 2019 campaign. Crouse had big strikeout totals in the minors but his walk rate spiked big in 2023 before somewhat normalizing with Triple-A Salt Lake in 2024, which was his first year in the Angels’ organization. Assuming first and foremost that he is healthy, Crouse figures to draw some attention from a team interested in his ability to miss bats.
Sounds like Crouse is injured again.
@darkside830. Just looked, he only pitched a inning. Was solid last year.
Crouse was missing a lot of bats. If he’s in good health condition, I don’t see why he wouldn’t be picked up by another team.
The video of his injury doesn’t look good at all.
I liked crouse, although he wasn’t looking great in spring training figured he would be a good backup option.
Might be back to heisting bearer bonds for Hans.
Yippee ki yay.
Hans will be avenged by Simon!
I liked Crouse last season. Surprised they’re giving up on him, unless his apparent injury is pretty serious…
@orange2001. Couldn’t they stick him on the IL or do they have to pass him through waivers.
He’d have to be recalled to be placed on the 60 day IL, and he would accrue service time. His injury looks serious, so hopefully he gets a new minor league deal to cover the rehab.
Unless it’s TJ surgery, making him unavailable for rest of the season and most of next?
If he’s injured, they can’t outright him. Usually, guys released due to injury re-sign with the AAA club.
@Darkside830. Gotcha So he most likely got bumped because we needed a arm. Some one will pick him up unless he’s out for the year
Jerry Crouse aka crumbs helped build chaos but got made fun of by MJ
Crouse not a bad ERA when you consider his walk rate.
Like the surfmonster sayeth: Walk don’t run (at least still someone drives in).
Look MA !!
NO HANS !!
Meh. Better off selecting Darrell-Hall-Oates. Darrell-Hicks. I can’t go for that. No can do.
I wonder if Darrell-Hicks has any brothers?
Named Larry and Darrell?
Darrell-Hicks has a sister. Darrell-Hannah. She kill Bill. And she has sisters. Hannah and her sistas
Hicks was called up just in case an arm was needed. The only appearance he would have made would have been in a blow out, in order to save the other relievers. As that is the most likely case, it really didn’t matter WHO they brought up.
He’ll be back down as soon as Ryan Johnson rejoins the team.
@johnnyangel. They probably could’ve got rid of Lopez. I know it’s thin, but kingery isn’t much different, and is he going to stay on the team when neto comes back probably not. Idk crouse is probably someone they will need later on.
Yes the Lopez signing is a head scratcher.
I think the FO panicked when Moncada, Rengifo, and Neto were all injured during spring training, not realizing they would all be back in fairly short order.
@johnnyangel. It’s because the infield depth has sucked for four years. Perry has bad PTSD. I still have some about the bullpen even though 7-9 looks solid. I would’ve kept crouse. Even if the infield takes a hit lugo can play 2nd and we have enough guys you can move around to make it work or he could be the backup centerfielder.
When Darrell-Hall strikes out someone the Anaheim in house Casio player should play Maneater
What else does Neto need to do at AAA. Good grief, bring him up now.