Soto makes big league debut at age 31
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LOS ANGELES -- Angels second baseman Luis Rengifo suffered a right hamstring strain while running to first base on a single in the seventh inning Friday night and exited the 9-5 loss to the Dodgers. He was replaced by Elliot Soto, who made his Major League debut at 31 years old after 10 seasons in the Minors.
Rengifo has been the club’s starting second baseman since Andrelton Simmons elected not to play the final five games of the season, prompting the move of David Fletcher to shortstop. With the Angels out of postseason contention with the loss, Soto could see more action in the last two games of the year.
Angels manager Joe Maddon did not have an update on Rengifo’s status after the game.
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Soto was signed as a Minor League free agent by the Angels in the offseason after spending time in the farm systems of the Cubs, Marlins and Rockies. He's a career .259/.336/.337 hitter in 867 Minor League games. He was called up Tuesday after Simmons was placed on the restricted list.
Soto replaced Rengifo at second base but didn’t get an at-bat. Shohei Ohtani pinch-hit for him in the ninth inning against closer Kenley Jansen. Ohtani struck out looking.