Stefanic was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake on Saturday.
Stefanic got a modest look in his first taste of MLB action last season, logging 69 plate appearances over 25 games. However, he managed a meager .197/.279/.230 slash line, well off the .314/.422/.425 line he posted at the Triple-A level. Stefanic is an extreme contact hitter but offers little in the way of power or speed, so he doesn't figure to ever be an impactful fantasy asset. The Angels have multiple infielders returning from injury this season and also added Brandon Drury and Gio Urshela in the offseason, so Stefanic faces a difficult path back to the big leagues.
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Angels' Michael Stefanic: On bench again
Rotowire
Stefanic is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rangers, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
Stefanic will sit for the third game in a row and appears to have lost out on an everyday role in the middle infield to fellow rookie Livan Soto. The 26-year-old rookie has gotten off to a disappointing start to his big-league career, producing a .459 OPS through his first 57 plate appearances with the Angels.
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Angels' Michael Stefanic: Sitting after three straight starts
Rotowire
Stefanic is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mariners, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
He'll give way in the middle infield Monday to Livan Soto, who is being rewarded with a second straight start after going 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBI and an additional run in Sunday's 5-1. Stefanic had produced two hits in eight at-bats while starting in each of the previous three contests, and with David Fletcher (hand) recently joining Andrew Velazquez (knee) on the injured list, the rookie should have a fairly clear path to playing time over the final two and a half weeks of the season.
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Angels' Michael Stefanic: Garners third straight start
Rotowire
Stefanic will start at second base and bat eighth in Sunday's game against the Mariners, Sarah Valenzuela of the Los Angeles Times reports.
The rookie finds himself in the lineup for a third straight contest and should have a fairly clear path to an everyday role in the middle infield after David Fletcher (hand) was placed on the injured list Saturday. Through his first 53 big-league plate appearances, Stefanic is hitting .191 with one extra-base hit (a double) and a 4:10 BB:K.
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Angels' Michael Stefanic: Called up Wednesday
Rotowire
Stefanic was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake on Wednesday.
Stefanic was sent to the minors in late July, and he missed a few games at the end of August due to back spasms. However, he's been back in action over the last few weeks and has slashed .484/.590/.871 with two home runs, a triple, four doubles, nine runs and nine RBI over nine games since the start of September. He should have a chance to carve out playing time for the Angels down the stretch after Andrew Velazquez (knee) was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday.
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Angels' Michael Stefanic: Returns to action Friday
Rotowire
Stefanic (back) went 1-for-3 with a double, two walks, a run and an RBI for Triple-A Salt Lake on Friday.
Stefanic missed a few games earlier this week due to back spasms, but he was back as the Bees' designated hitter Friday. The 26-year-old has shown excellent on-base skills in the minors this season, slashing .293/.401/.371 in 68 contests at the Triple-A level. However, he struggled in a 16-game stint in the majors in July, batting a paltry .167 with only one extra-base hit over 42 at-bats.
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Angels' Michael Stefanic: Returns to minors
Rotowire
Stefanic was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake on Thursday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
Stefanic started off strong after making his big-league debut in early July with a .944 OPS in his first seven games, but the honeymoon ended quickly as he went hitless in his past nine contests. David Fletcher (hip) was reinstated from the 60-day injured list in a corresponding move and will reclaim a starting role for the Angels. Stefanic could receive another chance with the Halos later in the year, but for now he'll attempt to straighten things out in the minors.
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Angels' Michael Stefanic: Sitting Sunday
Rotowire
Stefanic is not in the starting lineup Sunday versus Atlanta.
Stefanic will be on the bench for the second time in three games to start the second half of the season after he went 0-for-3 with a strikeout in Saturday's loss. Luis Rengifo will slide over to second base while Andrew Velazquez enters the lineup at shortstop and bats ninth in the series finale.
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Angels' Michael Stefanic: Out of lineup Friday
Rotowire
Stefanic isn't starting Friday's game against Atlanta.
Stefanic started the last three games but went 0-for-12 with a walk and three strikeouts. Luis Rengifo is shifting to second base while Andrew Velazquez starts at shortstop.
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Angels' Michael Stefanic: Steps out of lineup
Rotowire
Stefanic is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Astros, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
Stefanic started the past six games and jumped up to the leadoff spot Tuesday, but he'll receive a day off after going 0-for-4 with a walk and a run scored. He's off to a strong start through eight big-league games with an .808 OPS.
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Angels' Michael Stefanic: Leading off Tuesday
Rotowire
Stefanic will play second base and lead off Tuesday against the Astros, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.
Stefanic has not hit higher than sixth since making his big-league debut earlier this month, but he will get a shot atop the batting order after reaching base 10 times over his last five games.
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Angels' Michael Stefanic: Reaches four times Sunday
Rotowire
Stefanic went 2-for-2 with two walks and a run in Sunday's loss to Baltimore.
Stefanic reached base in all four of his plate appearances in the loss, and he scored a run in the third inning on a Monte Harrison home run. Stefanic has only one extra-base hit (a double) in 22 plate appearances, but he's shown an astute ability to get on base with a .389 average and .500 OBP over 22 plate appearances. His major-league skill set has thus far proven to be in line with what he showed in the minors; over 210 plate appearances with Triple-A Salt Lake this season, the 26-year-old slashed .320/.410/.399 but had only 10 extra-base hits among his 57 total hits while posting a 25:12 BB:K.
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Angels' Michael Stefanic: Heads to bench Tuesday
Rotowire
Stefanic is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Marlins, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
Stefanic will take a seat after he struck out in all three of his at-bats in his MLB debut in Sunday's 4-2 loss to the Astros. Interim manager Phil Nevin suggested that Stefanic will receive an opportunity to play on a regular basis, but the rookie will still find himself on the bench for the series opener in Miami nonetheless. Luis Rengifo and Andrew Velazquez will serve as the Halos' starters in the middle infield Tuesday.
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Angels' Michael Stefanic: Fans three times in MLB debut
Rotowire
Stefanic went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts in Sunday's loss to Houston.
Stefanic was called up early Sunday and was immediately slotted into the starting lineup as the team's second baseman. The 26-year-old didn't have a memorable debut, however, as he struck out in all three of his plate appearances. Contact hasn't been a major issue for Stefanic in his minor-league career -- in fact, he fanned only 12 times over 178 plate appearances with Triple-A Salt Lake this season. He's slated to play on a near-everyday basis, and it's reasonable to expect Sunday's strikeout-filled performance to be more of an aberration than his norm moving forward.
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Angels' Michael Stefanic: Returns to action at Triple-A
Rotowire
Stefanic, who hadn't played at Triple-A Salt Lake since April 21 due to an unspecified injury, returned to the lineup for Sunday's 9-4 loss to Round Rock. He started at second base and went 0-for-2 with two walks.
Stefanic doesn't possess a spot on the Angels' 40-man roster, but since he's not a young prospect at 26 years old, the organization likely won't hesitate to promote him if his performance at Triple-A warrants a call-up. He's turned in a .781 OPS through his first 14 games, making him a solidly above-average contributor in the Pacific Coast League.
