Angels call up outfielder Navarro, option Maronde

TORONTO -- The Angels recalled Efren Navarro from Triple-A Salt Lake on Friday and plugged him into the No. 8 spot in the lineup for the series opener against the Blue Jays. Navarro's promotion was Los Angeles' corresponding move after optioning left-hander Nick Maronde to the Salt Lake Bees on Wednesday.

Though Navarro has primarily been used as a first baseman throughout his professional career, he has played some outfield this season and manned left field for the Angels on Friday. Bench coach Dino Ebel, who is acting as the Angels manager for the first two games of the series, said the club has received good reports about Navarro's work in the outfield.

"He has good hands," Ebel said. "He's comfortable and they say his arm plays well. Out there, it shouldn't be a problem and he has [Mike] Trout out there [in center field]."

Ebel mentioned that Navarro, who honed his skills in the outfield during winter ball, could see some time in right field during the four-game set in Toronto, too. The club intends to juggle its lineup to rotate some players through at designated hitter because of the AstroTurf at Rogers Centre, which is considered to be tough on the body.

Trout and Albert Pujols will both DH in the series, Ebel said, and Collin Cowgill would shift to center field when Trout does, allowing Navarro a chance to start in right.

Navarro hit .315 with 14 RBIs and a .401 on-base percentage in 34 games with the Bees. He entered Friday's contest a career .214 hitter at the Major League level over 12 games, and he doubled in his first at-bat off Blue Jays starter Dustin McGowan.

Maronde, meanwhile, had a 5.68 ERA in 11 appearances out of the Angels' bullpen.