The Angels announced that they have selected the contracts of the outfielder Wade Meckler and an infielder Donovan Walton. They will take the places of foreign players Josh Lowe and an infielder Yoan Moncada. Lowe was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake while Moncada was placed on the 10-day injured list with right knee inflammation. The Halos entered the day with one open spot for 40 men after going out Alec Manoah earlier this week. They open another one by transferring left Yusei Kikuchi in IL for 60 days. Before the official announcement, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register relayed that Meckler and Walton were on the roster and Lowe and Moncada were not on the roster. Moncada then told Jack Janes of the Sporting Tribune that he would go on the injured list.
Meckler, 26, spent his entire career with the Giants until recently. The Angels said he was off waivers in January but then told him a few weeks later. He started this year with Triple-A Salt Lake but struggled in five games, so the Halos sent him down to Double-A Rocket City. He has been putting together the Trash Pandas, with a .343/.449/.525 line. That’s partly due to a .395 batting average on balls in play but his consistent walk and 16% strikeout rates are both very strong stats.
Before joining the Angels, Meckler made his minor league debut with the Giants in 2023. He hit just .232/.328/.250 in 64 plate appearances. As a prospect, his profile showed that he had a strong foundation due to his speed and defense. His case was very doubtful. You usually have a good way of communicating without a tone of force. He has made 1,393 plate appearances in his career with a solid 14.2% walk rate and 16.6% strikeout rate but only 21 runs in that span.
With Meckler putting up good numbers at the plate lately, the Angels will see if he can translate any of that to the big leagues. At worst, he should be able to drive the ball down the field and steal a few bases, though whether he can produce in the batter’s box will be more of a question. If it doesn’t work, you still have an option and can easily be returned to the children.
Halos had the first outdoor arena Mike Trout, Jo Adell and Lowe’s this year, with the boys Jorge Soler, Adam Frazier again Jose Siri Trout and Adell should still be there regularly but the other guys in that group will probably compete for the playing time that has opened up now that Lowe is no longer on the roster.
More to come.
