The Los Angeles Angels are already shaking things up in their bullpen, and the season's just begun. Over the weekend, during their series against the Houston Astros, the Angels made a swift move by sending Walbert Urena down to Triple-A Salt Lake and bringing up veteran right-hander Shaun Anderson.
Urena's inclusion on the Opening Day roster was a bit of a surprise. As one of the Angels' top-20 prospects, he’s shown promise, but with only a single appearance above Double-A, it seemed early to thrust him into the big leagues, especially with the bullpen already dealing with injuries.
In his two outings over the weekend, Urena faced 15 batters, allowing six runs on five hits and walking three. While his ERA didn't take a hit thanks to the defense, his performance showed that he’s still a work in progress.
The starting rotation for the Angels looked solid against the Astros, but the bullpen struggled, especially during the Saturday and Sunday games. Anderson's arrival provides a much-needed fresh arm, while Urena will head back to Triple-A to develop as a starter.
The Angels quickly acknowledged the misstep in their Opening Day roster decision. Kurt Suzuki shared insights with reporters, explaining, “We needed more depth in the bullpen.
Urena’s going down to get back into a rhythm. He’s got the talent and work ethic, and we’re all excited about his future.”
The decision to bring Urena up so soon was indeed a bold one. At just 22, he's got plenty of potential, but there’s no rush. The Angels seem committed to nurturing his talent, ensuring he’s ready when the time is right.