ANAHEIM -- The Angels activated first baseman C.J. Cron from the disabled list Sunday before Sunday's 4-1 win over the Tigers, restoring a potentially key power bat to the Halos' lineup.
Cron missed 14 games after sustaining a left toe contusion on April 28. His recovery was slowed after he was hit by a pitch on the right wrist in his first rehab game on May 7, but he returned to action three days later and went 5-for-12 with two doubles, a home run and three RBIs in four Minor League games.
Before landing on the disabled list, Cron was batting .233 with no homers and three RBIs in 17 games with the Angels.
"He feels comfortable at the plate," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "He got a chance to get 10 at-bats or so, so he's hopefully going to come up here and be more comfortable."
Cron was projected to split time at first base with Luis Valbuena, but he could receive an opportunity to play more consistently due to the injury to third baseman Yunel Escobar, who was placed on the DL and is expected to miss two to four weeks with a left hamstring strain.
Valbuena started at third Sunday, with Cron manning first, but Scioscia said the Halos could also use Cliff Pennington at the hot corner and shift Valbuena to first in Escobar's absence.
Infielder Jefry Marte was initially optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake to create a spot for Cron on the Angels' 25-man roster Sunday, but he was recalled after Escobar landed on the 10-day disabled list and could be another option at third. The 25-year-old Marte impressed the Angels by hitting 15 home runs in 88 games in 2016, but he had been limited to starting at first base against left-handers and was batting .179 with two homers and nine RBIs in 29 games this season.
"Last year he started off slowly," Scioscia said. "Once he found it, he came here and really was impressive, especially against left-handed pitching."
Worth noting
• Angels slugger Jose Pujols received a day off Sunday to attend to a personal matter. Michael Trout served as the designated hitter in his place, with Cameron Maybin playing center field and Ben Revere manning left.