Angels add righty prospect Morin to bullpen

NEW YORK -- In need of an extra arm one night after a taxing day for the bullpen, one that doesn't necessarily deploy a long reliever, the Angels gave Mike Morin his first crack at the big leagues on Sunday, calling the 22-year-old right-hander up from Triple-A Salt Lake and optioning outfielder Brennan Boesch.

To make room for Morin on the 40-man roster, the Angels designated lefty Michael Roth for assignment. Roth, 24, was the second member of the 2012 Draft class to make his Major League debut, posting a 7.20 ERA in 20 innings last year, but was 0-3 with a 5.48 ERA in four starts at Double-A Arkansas this season.

The Angels now have eight relievers and only three reserves.

"If everyone gets a role and contributes, you don't know how long that will last," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "Right now, it's something that can help us."

The Angels used four relievers to throw 3 2/3 scoreless innings in Saturday's 4-3 loss and don't have a traditional swing man, though Yoslan Herrera and Fernando Salas are capable of pitching more than one inning if needed, as is Morin.

"Without a true long man, sometimes you have to do it with numbers," Scioscia said. "We want to be prepared in case someone has a short start or games go into extra innings."

Morin was taken out of the University of North Carolina in the 13th round in 2012, and boasts a plus changeup. He was the Angels' Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2013, with a 1.93 ERA, a 0.94 WHIP and a 7.60 strikeout-to-walk ratio at Class A Advanced Inland Empire and Arkansas.

Morin -- ranked 10th in the Angels' system by MLB.com -- started 2014 with five consecutive scoreless outings, then earned a promotion to Triple-A and gave up five runs (four earned) in his first three innings in the Pacific Coast League.

"Morin has really come on in the last couple years," Scioscia said. "He has great makeup. He'll be ready for the opportunity."