ANAHEIM — Perhaps the biggest position battle of the Angels’ spring training has been decided.

Angels manager Ron Washington announced Monday that Jack Kochanowicz has earned the final spot in the starting rotation and Reid Detmers will stay with the major league team in the bullpen.

Kochanowicz was outstanding in the final months of the 2024 season, posting a 2.45 ERA in August and a 3.03 ERA in September. He continued trending upward during spring training with a 2.92 ERA in 12 1/3 innings.

“Watching the way Kochanowicz pitched, he’s been doing it since September all the way through spring training, he won the job,” Washington said. “Not that Detmers lost it, but we had to make a choice.”

Kochanowicz, 24, was told Sunday prior to the game at Dodger Stadium in a meeting with Washington, General Manager Perry Minasian and pitching coach Barry Enright.

“I’m beyond excited. They told me yesterday. I had to give them two hugs each, I just felt like I needed to,” Kochanowicz said. “Obviously it’s a dream come true to start up here, but any chance I’m given I’m happy to be here.”

Kochanowicz will start the Freeway Series finale against the Dodgers tonight.

“I’m just going to continue doing what I’m doing,” Kochanowicz said. “Nothing different. Sinkers at the bottom and see how it goes.”

Detmers, 25, has also pitched well in spring training after a tumultuous 2024 season. He posted a 2.79 ERA in 19 1/3 innings with 17 strikeouts.

Detmers was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake last June after going 3-6 with a 6.14 ERA in 12 starts.

“Obviously being a starter is where I’d like to be and I believe that’s where I’ll end up being eventually. But right now it’s getting off to a different path,” Detmers said. “I’m looking forward to it. Whatever way I can help this team win is what I’m going to do and right now it’s out of the bullpen.”

Washington said he plans on using Detmers for multiple innings out of the bullpen to keep his arm stretched out, but that game situations will ultimately dictate how he is used.

“We had a conversation with him yesterday and his head is in a very good place,” Washington said. “He just wants to pitch and whatever he has to do to help the team, he is willing to do it. When he gets out there on that mound, it will be for an extended period of time.”

The Angels might face a challenge keeping Detmers and newly acquired Ian Anderson’s arms stretched out from the bullpen, but Detmers isn’t concerned about the change of regimen from being a starting pitcher to a bullpen pitcher.