The Angels announced Tuesday that they’ve selected catcher Joe Hudson’s contract from Triple-A Salt Lake and created a spot on the 40-man roster by requesting release waivers on infielder Nolan Fontana. Additionally, the Halos called up outfielders Jabari Blash and Michael Hermosillo from Salt Lake.
Hudson’s promotion was necessitated by a pair of moves the Angels made earlier this summer — the trade of Martin Maldonado to the division-rival Astros as well as the Braves’ claim of Rene Rivera on revocable trade waivers. (The Angels opted to let Rivera and his remaining salary go.)
The 27-year-old Hudson doesn’t have the youth or track record to be deemed a prospect, but since being traded from the Reds to the Angels for cash back on June 30, he’s hit well in Double-A and Triple-A — admittedly in minuscule samples. Hudson notched a .970 OPS in seven games with the Angels’ Double-A club before moving up to Triple-A and hitting .311/.380/.478 in 101 PAs. He’s also drawn solid framing marks over the past couple of seasons in the minors and has a career 43 percent caught-stealing rate.
Fontana, also 27, was placed on release waivers after hitting .234/.397/.414 in 191 plate appearances with the Angels’ Triple-A club this season. He’s been on the minor league disabled list since late July due to a hand injury, though, and was a candidate to be outrighted off the 40-man roster following the season anyhow. The former second-round pick was once a fairly well-regarded prospect in the Astros’ system and has consistently demonstrated strong plate discipline skills in the minors.
