Reid Detmers will make his major league debut for the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday when they conclude a four-game series against the Oakland Athletics in Anaheim, Calif.
Detmers, the Angels’ No. 1 pick (10th overall) in the 2020 draft, began his professional career this season at Double-A for the Rocket City Trash Pandas in Madison, Ala. He made 12 starts before a recent promotion to Triple-A Salt Lake, with which he scattered three hits over six scoreless innings with nine strikeouts and no walks last Saturday.
Detmers takes the rotation spot of fellow left-hander Andrew Heaney, who was traded to the New York Yankees on Friday. Though Detmers didn’t spend much time in the minors, many believed he was major league ready when he was drafted out of the University of Louisville a year ago.
“I like it a lot and I think you’re going to see more young guys get an opportunity,” Angels manager Joe Maddon said. “I like the kid a lot. We all do. He comes from a great college program in Louisville. He wasn’t able to do a lot last year but he’s been making up ground. We know his stuff is really good. But the makeup matches the ability.”
Detmers was 2-4 with a 3.50 ERA for Rocket City, with which he saw his fastball velocity increase. He recorded 97 strikeouts in just 54 innings.
“Obviously, the box scores have been really good but the work ethic between every start and the preparation between every start and what he puts into it, the reports are even better,” Angels general manager Perry Minasian said. “The two factors when calling up a player are based on a talent and performance standpoint and the second factor is the mental aspect. Can the player handle it? And we think Reid is ready to go.”
Detmers initially was scheduled to start Saturday’s game — a 1-0 win by the Angels. However his start was pushed back to the series finale because Shohei Ohtani’s scheduled start Sunday was moved back due to a sore right thumb.
In Wednesday’s game, Ohtani was in the dugout when he was hit on the right thumb by a foul ball. Although Ohtani will remain in the lineup as the designated hitter, his next start on the mound has not been determined.
“He tried to protect himself,” Maddon said. “It was a high chopper that came in here. It was too high, but I would’ve thrown myself in front of him.”
Oakland right-hander James Kaprielian was scheduled to start Sunday’s game but instead was placed on the injured list with a right shoulder impingement.
“We’re hoping it’s not serious,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said. “It’s inflammation in the AC joint of his shoulder. He felt it a little bit after his last start. We monitored it and it just makes some sense to, at least, skip him one turn in the rotation. This is a guy we want to keep healthy.”
Right-hander Daulton Jefferies will start Sunday after being called up from Triple-A Las Vegas, with which he went 3-1 with a 5.19 ERA in 12 starts. He made one major league start last year but was hit hard, allowing five runs on five hits and two walks in just two innings against Texas.
