Angels recall Guzman and Mancini as Grissom, Frazier go on IL

ANAHEIM -- The Angels’ roster has been in flux in recent weeks, and that continued Monday, as the club called up top infield prospect Denzer Guzman from Triple-A Salt Lake and veteran first baseman Trey Mancini was brought up to the Majors for the first time since the 2023 season.

Infielders Vaughn Grissom (left oblique strain) and Adam Frazier (right elbow inflammation) were placed on the 10-day injured list to make room for Guzman and Mancini on the roster. Veteran third baseman Yoán Moncada (right knee inflammation) was moved to the 60-day IL, which means he won’t be eligible to return until July 21.

Guzman, ranked as the Angels’ No. 7 prospect by MLB Pipeline, will be the regular third baseman, while Mancini gives the Angels some depth with Nolan Schanuel dealing with left ankle soreness after returning from the IL on Saturday. Guzman started at third and hit fifth against the Astros, while Mancini started at first base and batted seventh in his first MLB game since July 31, 2023.

“Just excited to have [Guzman] here,” manager Kurt Suzuki said. “He’s been having great at-bats [in the Minors] and is working on his defense. He's going to get a run here at third base. I'm not going to run him into the ground and rush him, but for the most part, he's going to be playing every day.”

Guzman had a breakout season in the Minors, slashing .336/.403/.571 with 12 homers, 16 doubles, two triples, nine stolen bases and 57 RBIs in 58 games at Triple-A. The 22-year-old got his first taste of the Majors last year, when he slashed .190/.209/.357 with two homers, a double and three RBIs in 13 games down the stretch.

But he said he worked hard to get stronger in the offseason and made some mechanical tweaks at the plate that have paid off. He's a natural shortstop who played 41 games there -- compared to 14 at third -- at Triple-A this year, so that will also be an adjustment.

“I worked a lot on my body and on hitting to be ready,” Guzman said through interpreter Manny Del Campo. “I feel comfortable [at third]. I've practiced in Spring Training a lot, and I feel good.”

Mancini, meanwhile, made his way back to the Majors after slashing .273/.377/.464 with six homers and 29 RBIs in 52 games at Triple-A, following a Minor League deal in the offseason.

He was released by the Cubs in August 2023 and subsequently signed with the Reds three weeks later, then signed with the Marlins before the ‘24 season, but didn’t reach the big leagues either time. After nearly retiring, he signed with the D-backs last season on the advice of now-Angels hitting coach Brady Anderson, who knew him from his time with the Orioles from 2016-22.

Mancini, 34, played well at Triple-A last year but never got called up, so this time it felt extra special given all that he’s persevered through over the last three years. And by coincidence, his return came against the Astros, the team he won the World Series with in ‘22.

“It's pretty surreal,” Mancini said. “It's been a long time and I felt so far removed from being in this position for the big part of the last three years. It’s pretty emotional. It's kind of like getting called up for the first time all over again.”

So while it was an exciting day for Guzman and Mancini, Grissom landed on the IL after injuring his oblique on a swing during batting practice on Friday, and Frazier has had recurring elbow issues in recent years. There’s no firm timeline for either player, but Grissom’s injury appears more serious.

With Grissom and Frazier out, Oswald Peraza, Nick Madrigal and Donovan Walton will share time at second base. Madrigal started there on Monday after his strong showing Sunday, when he saw a total of 37 pitches with three walks and a single while fouling 17 pitches off.

“[Oblique injuries] are tricky,” Suzuki said. “Try to get ahead of it and make sure that he's good. And Fraizer had some tenderness in his right elbow. Something that he's dealt with in the past. And again, something we just want to get ahead of it and make sure that it doesn't flare up into something bad.”