ANAHEIM — Kurt Suzuki said that he’s hoping José Siri can give a “spark” to their struggling offense, but he’s also realistic.
“Let’s be honest,” Suzuki said. “I would love for him to do that, but I think it’d be unfair to (Siri) to put so much pressure on him to be like, the guy that’s going to come save the Angels. He’s been swinging the bat really well. He’s been playing really well in Salt Lake City and we just want him to come out here and keep doing what he’s been doing.”
On Saturday, the Angels called up Siri and sent down Bryce Teodosio. Siri was in the lineup, playing left field and batting ninth, on Saturday night. It’s the first time this season the Angels made a roster move with a position player that didn’t involve someone going on or coming off the injured list.
Siri, 30, has played parts of five years in the majors, with a .206 average and a .663 OPS. His best year was 2023, when he hit 25 homers with a .761 OPS for the Rays. Since then, he has a .596 OPS in 484 plate appearances with the Rays and New York Mets.
Siri struggled in spring training, but then hit .288 with an .857 OPS in 140 plate appearances at Salt Lake.
“This is truly a blessing,” Siri said through an interpreter. “I was praying hard for this. I also was working hard for this. I’m always here to help the team win, and I’m here for the guys. Let’s go.”
Siri has a reputation for being an excellent defender, just like Teodosio. Teodosio was hitting .215 with a .515 OPS, even though he was mostly playing against lefties. He had one hit in 10 at-bats against righties.
“Teo’s a tremendous guy, work ethic, everything,” Suzuki said. “We just feel like it was time. Maybe Siri could give us a little spark.”
CATCHER UPDATE
Catcher Logan O’Hoppe was back in the starting lineup on Saturday, a day after he had to come out of the game because of pain in his left hand. O’Hoppe returned to the lineup less than three weeks after he suffered the fracture, which was faster than expected.
Despite the apparent setback on Friday, Suzuki said O’Hoppe assured him he could play.
“I was definitely worried, for sure,” Suzuki said. “But I talked to him last night on the way home and he sounded pretty optimistic. He said he felt pretty good. I talked to him today and he said he felt great. He’s going to be sore, but he’s a tough guy and wants to push through.”
Catcher Travis d’Arnaud, who was placed on the injured list because of plantar fasciitis, was wheeling around the clubhouse on a scooter, keeping all pressure off his foot.
“This is better than having crutches every day,” d’Arnaud said. “It’s getting better every day. Still haven’t put weight on it.”
D’Arnaud said until he can put weight on his foot, he won’t have a timetable to return.
In the meantime, the Angels added some organizational catching depth by signing veteran catcher Austin Wynns to a minor league deal and assigning him to Triple-A.
Wynns, 35, has spent parts of eight years in the majors with six teams. He began this season with the A’s, hitting .077 in 43 plate appearances. As recently as last season, he hit .291 with an .865 OPS with the Cincinnati Reds and A’s.
The Angels begin a series with the A’s on Monday.
NOTES
Suzuki said that Ryan Johnson is currently in the Angels’ bullpen because of what the team needs at the moment. “It was nothing like we don’t think he’s a starter,” Suzuki said. “Just more need than anything.” The Angels will have to make a roster move on Sunday to activate Grayson Rodriguez, so it’s likely that they’ll send down one of their three current long relievers: Johnson, Alek Manoah or Mitch Farris. …
The Angels transferred right-hander Ben Joyce to the 60-day injured list to open a 40-man roster spot for Siri. It doesn’t change the timeline for Joyce because the 60 days are retroactive to the start of the season. He would be eligible to return on May 25. The Angels are slowing down Joyce’s rehab from shoulder surgery because he was bouncing back as well as expected, but an MRI exam showed no new structural damage, Joyce said. …
Right-hander Caden Dana came out of a start at Triple-A on Thursday because of fatigue related to his spring training bout with mono, the Angels said. Dana essentially had to start spring training from scratch about a month after his teammates, and he’s since come out of two games at Triple-A because of symptoms related to his illness. …
The Dodgers presented Angels reliever Kirby Yates with his 2025 World Series ring before Saturday’s game. Yates did not pitch in the postseason but he pitched in 50 games in the regular season.
UP NEXT
Dodgers (RHP Roki Sasaki, 1-3, 5.88) at Angels (RHP Grayson Rodriguez, season debut), Sunday, 1:07 p.m., ABTV, 830 AM