



TAMPA, Fla. — When Yoán Moncada was placed on the injured list Thursday, it cleared a little more space for Kyren Paris to have a comfortable everyday spot.
Now, about the batting order ...
Paris, who has started the season as one of the hottest hitters in the majors, was in the Angels’ starting lineup for the fifth consecutive game Thursday. He’s batted seventh every time.
When manager Ron Washington was asked about moving him up, he said he wants to see Paris sustain his success first. Paris, 23, was hitting .440 with five homers and an OPS of 1.653 through his first 10 games and 30 plate appearances.
“We are 11 games in and he is swinging the bat very, very well,” Washington said. “And he’s swinging the bat very, very well because of where he is. We get two months into the season, three months into the season, and he’s still pounding the ball like that, maybe we might think about moving him up a little bit. But right now, I have professional guys that made their living in the spots that they’re hitting in. And you know, we just want Kyren to keep growing. And he’s going to tell us, as we move forward, exactly who he is and where he should be, but right now, he’s exactly where he should be.”
Washington did at least concede that Paris is going to be in the lineup somewhere every day.
With Moncada now on the injured list because of a sprained right thumb, the obvious alignment seems to be Paris at second and Luis Rengifo at third.
Washington wouldn’t commit to that, though. Paris also plays center field.
“I don’t make assumptions,” Washington said with a smile. “I just want you guys every day to watch the lineup. Paris will be in the lineup. Y’all been wanting him in the lineup. He’s in the lineup, but I’m not gonna put a stamp on anything more than that.”
As for Moncada, it’s no surprise the Angels finally had to put him on the injured list. He was first hurt March 12. He missed the last week of games in Arizona. He was able to play Opening Day, but in the seventh game of the season he had to come out when he felt it on a swing. Four days later, he was back in the lineup for one at-bat before he got hurt again.
Moncada was set to be further evaluated, but as of Thursday morning all they knew was that he needs some time.
“We’ve got no results yet,” Washington said. “We’ve just got to get it well. We’re not going to get it well putting Band-Aids on it.”
The Angels replaced Moncada on the active roster by calling up third baseman J.D. Davis, who was hitting .297 with two homers and an .844 OPS in his first 10 games at Triple-A.
Davis was pulled in the middle of the game Wednesday night at Salt Lake. He took a red-eye flight to Tampa, got a couple hours of sleep at the hotel, and then hopped on the bus to the ballpark for Thursday afternoon’s game.
Davis was not on the 40-man roster, so the Angels designated left-hander Jack Dashwood for assignment in order to open a spot for him.
Dashwood was just added to the roster last fall, on the heels of a strong performance in the Arizona Fall League. He allowed five runs in three innings in spring training, and then 12 runs in his first two innings at Triple-A.
ALSO
Washington acknowledged that Tim Anderson is likely to get more playing time than Kevin Newman at shortstop going forward. Neither player has hit well so far, but Anderson has played exceptional defense. Zach Neto, who is rehabbing from shoulder surgery, is likely still at least a week away. ... Davis brought with him a gushing review of the new ballpark at Salt Lake, which just opened this week. “Amazing,” he said. “Unbelievable. One of the best stadiums we’ve ever seen with the backdrop of the mountains in the background. Just the whole environment is pretty cool. It looks like a big-league ballpark. They did it well.”