The Los Angeles Angels announced on Tuesday that LHP Jose Suarez, INFLuis Rengifo and RHP Luis Madero have been selected to the Major League roster. In corresponding moves, INF Jose Fernandez and RHP Parker Bridwell have been designated for assignment. The Club's 40-man roster is now full at 40 players. The announcements were made by General Manager Billy Eppler.
Suarez, 20, opened the 2018 season with Adv.-A Inland Empire and was promoted to Double-A Mobile after two starts. He would make seven starts for the BayBears before joining Triple-A Salt Lake in late May. His combined 142 strikeouts and 10.9 strikeouts per nine innings rate led all Angels minor league pitchers (min. 100 IP) and he ranked fifth in the organization in innings pitched. The native of Naguanagua, Venezuela was originally signed by the Angels as an international free agent on July 3, 2014. Suarez is currently ranked by MLB.com as the #8 prospect (#2 among pitchers) in the Angels system.
Rengifo, (pronounced: ren-GEE (rhymes with key)-foe), 21, also split 2018 between the Angels top three minor league affiliates and combined to hit .299 (150/502) with 30 doubles, 13 triples, seven home runs, 64 RBI and 41 stolen bases. The switch-hitter led all Angels minor leaguers in hits and stolen bases. The Venezuelan native was acquired by the Angels from Tampa Bay as the player to be named later in the trade which sent INF C.J. Cron to the Rays. Rengifo is currently ranked by MLB.com as the #10 prospect in the Angels system.
Madero, 21, made 14 starts for Class-A Burlington before being promoted to Inalnd Empire in July. In his nine starts with the 66ers, he went 2-1 with a 2.44 ERA (44.1 IP - 12 ER) and 46 strikeouts. His combined ERA of 3.49 (105.2 IP - 41 ER) last season ranked second (min. 100 IP) in the Angels organization and his 1.297 WHIP ranked fourth. A native of Maracay, Venezuela, Madero was acquired by the Angels on July 31, 2017 from Arizona in exchange for RHP David Hernandez.
Bridwell, 27, appeared in five games (one start) for the Angels in 2018 after spending the majority of the season on the disabled list at Salt Lake with a right elbow injury. A native of Hereford, TX, Bridwell went 10-3 with a 3.64 ERA (121 IP - 49 ER) across 21 games for the Angels in 2017 and led all A.L. rookies in wins. He was acquired by the Angels on April 17, 2017 in a trade with Baltimore.
Fernández, 30, made his Major League debut with the Angels on June 8 at Minnesota and would appear in 36 games for the Angels in 2018. He batted .267 (31/116) with eight doubles, two home runs and 11 RBI. A native of Santa Clara, Cuba, Fernandez signed with the Angels as a minor league free agent on Jan. 11, 2018 after spending the 2017 season in the Los Angeles Dodgers minor league system.