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 12⅓ 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 on Tuesday night.
“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 19⅓ 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.
“I’m not really sure how it’s going to work but we’re going to figure it out,” Detmers said. “They are going to take care of me. They are going to have a plan. It is what it is, I’m not mad about it. I’m excited to go on with this new role and get things going.”
The Angels used 18 different starting pitchers in 2024, so it’s highly likely Detmers will end up in the starting rotation at some point this season.
MONCADA UPDATE
Third baseman Yoán Moncada, who has been sidelined since March 12 with a bruised right thumb, took ground balls during batting practice Monday and did some light throwing.
Moncada was not wearing the same brace he wore over his thumb on Sunday, but did have a wrap around his thumb. He was softly throwing the ball back toward home plate rather than throwing the ball to first base and his status for Opening Day is still in question. Moncada has not swung a bat since the injury.
“If Moncada is ready to play Opening Day, I’m not worried about where he is as far as his bat. His presence is the key,” Washington said. “Even though he doesn’t have the reps of swinging the bat, you don’t lose the ability of understanding the strike zone and he understands the strike zone.”
UP NEXT
Dodgers (RHP Dustin May) at Angels (RHP Jack Kochanowicz), Tuesday, 6:07 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network, 830 AM
Originally Published:
