SEATTLE -- Alex Meyer might finally be ready to live up to his first-round, top-prospect potential. The Angels would love to see it.
On Saturday, the club called up the 6-foot-9, 26-year-old right-hander, who was the 23rd pick of the 2011 Draft, from Triple-A Salt Lake and penciled him in as their starter for next Wednesday's game against the Athletics in Oakland. They also announced that Friday's starter, Brett Oberholtzer, will be moved to the bullpen. The Angels also recalled first baseman Ji-Man Choi from Salt Lake.
Meyer is considered the 12th-best prospect in the Angels' system by MLBPipeline.com.
Meyer has been in the Angels organization since Aug. 1, when he was acquired, along with righty Ricky Nolasco, in the trade that sent left-hander Héctor Santiago and Minor League righty Alan Busenitz to Minnesota. Meyer, who is coming back from an impingement in the front of his shoulder that happened early in the year while with the Twins, is building up his pitch count and made a start in Salt Lake on Thursday, throwing four shutout innings and giving up two hits while striking out six.
Meyer, who has a 14.21 ERA in a total of 6 1/3 big league innings over four appearances with the Twins spanning the last two seasons, said he is happy to have a fresh start. He had already been traded once, going from Washington to Minnesota in the Denard Span deal on Nov. 29, 2012.
"I feel great now," said Meyer, who was in the upper 90s with his sinking fastball when climbing as high as MLB.com Pipeline's 28th top overall prospect in the game in early 2014. "The other night when I threw in Salt Lake … was the best I've felt since coming back."
The Angels have had enough injuries to their starting rotation that having someone promising and now healthy, as Meyer appears to be, can only be a positive.
"Like all of baseball, you're drawn to his power arm," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "He's got a nice delivery, he spins the ball well. Some of the tough spots he's gone through in his career, he's evolved, and he's thrown the ball well [in the Minors].
"You want to see him up here against Major League hitters and see how his stuff plays."
Meyer said he feels like he's come to a good spot for what he hopes will be a mutually beneficial career reboot.
"All I can ask for is an opportunity," Meyer said. "Now it comes to me going out there and taking advantage of it and not letting it pass by. I'm excited to play baseball again, and that's all I can ask for."
Surgery for Bedrosian: The Angels announced that right-handed reliever Cam Bedrosian would have surgery on the blood clot in his pitching arm next Tuesday in St. Louis. Bedrosian's season ends prematurely, but it was a breakout success. He pitched to a 1.12 ERA in 45 games, striking out 51 batters in 40 1/3 innings with an opposing batting average of .207.
Bedrosian has been on the 15-day disabled list since Aug. 9 (retroactive to Aug. 4) with right middle finger flexor tendinitis.
Robinson begins rehab: Outfielder Shane Robinson, who has been on the disabled list since Aug. 13 with a right hip flexor strain, was slated to begin a rehab assignment with Salt Lake on Saturday night.