The Angels optioned Soto to Double-A Rocket City on Tuesday.
Anthony Rendon (groin) has been activated from the injured list in a corresponding move. Soto, 22, went 2-for-9 with three walks and two strikeouts during his nearly three-week stay on the major-league roster.
... See More... See Less
Angels' Livan Soto: Promoted from Double-A
Rotowire
The Angels recalled Soto from Double-A Rocket City on Monday.
As anticipated, the Angels placed third baseman Anthony Rendon (groin) on the 10-day injured list to facilitate Soto's first promotion of the 2023 season. Soto received a late-season call-up to the big leagues in 2022 and delivered a .400/.414/.582 slash line in 59 plate appearances, but that level of performance stands out as a major outlier compared to every other stop he's made in the minors. He's mustered a pedestrian .566 OPS over 17 games at Rocket City this season and will likely have to settle for limited use in a utility role while he's up with the Angels.
... See More... See Less
Angels' Livan Soto: Getting call-up Monday
Rotowire
The Angels plan to call up Soto from Double-A Rocket City on Monday, Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com reports.
Soto's promotion may come as a bit of a surprise just looking at the numbers, as the 22-year-old was demoted to Double-A after hitting just .157 with Triple-A Salt Lake and he's posted just a .566 OPS since joining Rocket City. However, since he's on the 40-man roster and has the ability to play a few different infield positions, the Angels may view him as an ideal utility option while Anthony Rendon tends to a groin injury. Rendon is expected to be placed on the 10-day injured list Monday in a corresponding move.
... See More... See Less
Angels' Livan Soto: Demoted to Double-A
Rotowire
The Angels moved Soto from Triple-A Salt Lake to Double-A Rocket City on Tuesday, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.
The 22-year-old infielder looked to be something special during the brief time he spent in the majors last season, slashing .400/.414/.582 through 59 plate appearances. However, a slow start in Triple-A (.554 OPS) through 13 games has derailed any potential plans for Soto to rejoin the Angels anytime soon. If he's able to get things going in Double-A, there's a good chance he might get the call to return to Salt Lake relatively quickly.
... See More... See Less
Angels' Livan Soto: Productive from leadoff spot
Rotowire
Soto went 2-for-5 with a run scored in Monday's extra-inning loss to the Athletics.
The 22-year-old has exploded onto the scene for the Angels over the last few weeks, and he kept it going with a strong game batting out of the leadoff spot Monday. Soto's multi-hit effort was his eighth over his last 10 games, during which he is 18-for-36. Soto will likely come back to earth next season, as he sports an unsustainable BABIP north of .500, but he will be worth keeping an eye on to see if he earns regular playing time.
... See More... See Less
Angels' Livan Soto: Keeps hitting in win
Rotowire
Soto went 3-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored in Sunday's 8-3 win over the Rangers.
Soto had a hot finish to September, and it's carried over to October with three-hit efforts in each of his last two games. He's also knocked in at least one run in five of his last seven contests. The shortstop now sports a .413 batting average with a home run, five doubles, nine RBI, seven runs scored and a stolen base through his first 50 plate appearances in the majors.
... See More... See Less
Angels' Livan Soto: Three-hit effort in win
Rotowire
Soto went 3-for-3 with two doubles, an RBI and a run scored in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Rangers.
Soto was part of the Angels' rally for the lead in the seventh inning, knocking a game-tying RBI double and scoring the go-ahead run on a fielder's choice. This was his sixth multi-hit effort in his last eight games, with five of his 13 hits in that span going for extra bases. The infielder is now batting .381 with a home run, a triple, four doubles, seven RBI, six runs scored and a stolen base through his first 14 major-league contests. Soto's hot hitting should help protect him from losing playing time to David Fletcher, who returned from a hand injury Thursday.
... See More... See Less
Angels' Livan Soto: Piling up hits
Rotowire
Soto went 2-for-4 with a triple and an RBI in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Athletics.
The 22-year-old rookie has turned in four consecutive two-hit games to lift his batting average up to .379 through his first 32 big-league plate appearances. A .500 BABIP has had a major role in propping up Soto's batting average, and his 28.1 percent strikeout rate is another data point that suggests some regression could be in the forecast. Even if that's the case, Soto should at least continue to enjoy a full-time role in the Los Angeles infield while David Fletcher (hand) remains on the injured list.
... See More... See Less
Angels' Livan Soto: Homers in first start
Rotowire
Soto went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run and an additional run scored in Sunday's 5-1 win over the Mariners.
Soto entered Saturday's game off the bench and went 0-for-1 before drawing the start at shortstop Sunday. He was aboard on a single in the third inning for his first big-league hit, then scored on a Luis Rengifo homer. In the seventh, Soto went yard himself to pad the Angels' lead. The 22-year-old isn't a particularly notable prospect, but he slashed .281/.379/.362 across 119 games with Double-A Rocket City this year. He should have a chance to compete with Michael Stefanic and Rengifo for playing time in the middle infield over the last couple of weeks of the season.
... See More... See Less
Angels' Livan Soto: Contract selected by Angels
Rotowire
Soto's contract was selected from Double-A Rocket City on Saturday.
Soto was productive at Rocket City to begin the season, hitting .281 with six home runs, 69 runs, 56 RBI and 18 stolen bases. He'll provide additional infield depth for the Angels after David Fletcher (hand) was placed on the 10-day injured list. Soto isn't starting Saturday against the Mariners but should be available off the bench.
