ARLINGTON - The Angels got Christian Moore back in the mix Saturday night, with the rookie infielder recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake earlier in the day and inserted right away into the lineup against Texas. Moore batted eighth and started at second base, marking his first Major League action since June 26.
“It’s always exciting to be back,” Moore said before the game. “Obviously this time I want to stay and help these guys win and finish the season strong.”
Gustavo Campero also rejoined the club on Saturday and made his first appearance of the season, starting in left field.
To clear space on the 25-man roster, the Angels moved infielder Nolan Schanuel to the 10-day injured list with a right intercostal muscle strain, retroactive to Friday, and sent outfielder Wade Meckler to the seven-day concussion injured list, also retroactive to Friday. Meckler was hit in the head by a 90 mph pitch Thursday in Houston.
Schanuel’s absence stings because he had been locked in at the plate. Over his previous six games, he had collected eight hits and driven in seven runs. Manager Kurt Suzuki said the club had been managing the injury and decided to go with the “precautionary route.”
“Obviously it’s disappointing,” Suzuki said. “He's been swinging really, really good.
Every at-bat has been quality, line drives all over the place. So it's definitely a blow.
But again, it gives another person an opportunity to step up and get some reps.”
Moore, 23, is still one of the organization’s key young pieces. The Angels made him their top Draft pick in 2024 out of the University of Tennessee, and they continue to view him as part of a future core that includes Schanuel and Zach Neto.
But the bat has yet to fully translate in the Majors. In his earlier stint this season, Moore went 4-for-20 with 11 strikeouts before being optioned back to Salt Lake on June 27. He has been much sharper in the Minors, where he’s hitting .302 with 11 homers, 60 RBIs, 15 stolen bases and a .943 OPS.
He nearly added a little more to that résumé Tuesday, falling a single short of the cycle for the Bees while going 3-for-5 with four runs scored and two RBIs.
Moore said he hopes this latest opportunity comes mostly at second base, where he has the most professional experience, though he’s also played the outfield and is open to whatever the Angels ask of him.
“At the end of the day, I love this game. I love playing baseball,” Moore said.
“So whenever I have another opportunity to play a game, that's all the reset I need. I know I got a job to do.
Whether I'm here or down there, I got to do my job.”
In Other News...
Angels Suddenly Face A Nolan Schanuel Problem During Stretch Run
The Angels stretch run took a hit when Nolan Schanuel landed on the 10-day injured list with a right intercostal strain, removing one of their more stable pieces at first base just as the schedule starts tightening up. Schanuel had been hurt in a recent game, and the club also lost outfielder Wade Meckler to the 7-day concussion injured list after another recent setback, forcing the roster to absorb two more absences at once.
To fill the openings, Los Angeles recalled outfielder Gustavo Campero and infielder Christian Moore, a reminder of how quickly the margin for error disappears in September. For an Angels team already trying to piece together production and health at the same time, Schanuels absence leaves a real question about how long they can hold things together at first base while waiting for bodies to come back. [Read more 🡒]
Angels GM Search Will Show If Arte Moreno Has Really Changed
The Angels are back in familiar territory, sorting through a front-office opening with the season still unfolding and an interim hand on the wheel. John Mozeliak has stepped in after Perry Minasians dismissal, and for now his deal lasts only through the end of the year, which leaves the club facing a question that goes beyond one hire: whether this search is really about finding a long-term baseball chief or simply bridging the gap until the next decision point.
That question sits at the heart of how this process plays out under Arte Moreno, whose management style has long shaped the organizations reputation around the league. There is also the matter of where team president Molly Jolly fits into the power structure, because any meaningful change in the Angels front office will depend on more than just the rsum of the next general manager. The search should reveal whether the club is ready for a cleaner, more stable setup, or whether old habits still have the upper hand. [Read more 🡒]
Angels Have A Reason To Watch This Cubs Bullpen Problem Closely
Ryan Zeferjahn is already becoming a familiar name for Angels fans again, even after the club dealt him to Chicago to help the Cubs patch a bullpen that needed depth. The move was supposed to give the Cubs a live arm for the late innings, but his early work there has been uneven, and the most recent stretch has included a loss and a blown save.
For the Angels, the situation is worth tracking because it speaks to both sides of the trade: what Chicago hoped it was getting, and what Los Angeles gave up. The Cubs are now weighing options to get Zeferjahn back on track, including a possible injury list stint or a different role, and any shift in that plan will be watched closely by a former club that knows exactly what kind of arm it moved. [Read more 🡒]