TEMPE, Ariz. — The Angels will soon get a look at Christian Moore against big-league competition.
Manager Ron Washington said Moore will get some starts and come off the bench during the exhibition games, which start for the Angels on Saturday.
Moore, the Angels’ first-round pick last year, has made a strong early impression on his manager.
“He’s a super athlete, and I’m not just talking about baseball,” Washington said. “I thought if he was a basketball player, it’d be the same. If it was a football player, be the same. He’s just a super athlete. And he knows how to absorb information and apply it. He’s been applying it, I’ve been very impressed.”
Moore, 22, was nearly called up to the big leagues in September, before he hurt his knee. He torched Double-A to the tune of a .322 average with five homers and a .911 OPS in 23 games.
Moore was well enough to participate in the Angels’ instructional league, where they began working him at third in addition to second.
Now, the Angels are planning on working him at both spots in games.
“He plays third base pretty good,” Washington said. “It’s wide open. It’s freelancing at third base. Second base, he’s got to make decisions. That’s what I want to see at second base, the type of decisions he makes. Third base, you do or don’t, you will or you won’t.”
Moore has a chance to play in each game, but he’s more likely to start in the road games, because the veterans tend to play more in home games. The Angels’ first road game is Sunday, against the Cleveland Guardians in Goodyear.
FALL STAR
Niko Kavadas is starting spring training after an eye-opening performance in the Arizona Fall League.
Kavadas hit .329 with six homers and an OPS of 1.162 in 20 games in the AFL. He had hit .183 with a .616 OPS in 30 games with the Angels at the end of last season.
“Just being more aggressive,” Kavadas said. “Getting the bat off my shoulder early in counts. Mechanically, I was getting downhill and not hanging back and swinging up. Really being the aggressor and trying to drive the ball.”
Kavadas, who had been a first baseman and designated hitter, also got some time in the outfield in the AFL. He said he “really liked it.” Kavadas was acquired last year from the Boston Red Sox in the Luis Garcia deal.
STEPHENSON UPDATE
Right-hander Robert Stephenson was scheduled for his fourth bullpen session of the spring Friday.
Stephenson, who had Tommy John surgery last year, said he’s still throwing just fastballs, and not yet at full velocity.
“The other day I was 88-89 mph,” Stephenson said. “I try to keep it at 86-87 at the highest possible. They get mad at me if I go over that.”
Stephenson said he’ll probably start throwing his changeup and breaking balls in April, just before he begins facing hitters. The soonest he’s eligible to return is late May, because he’s on the 60-day injured list.
“It feels really good right now,” Stephenson said. “I’m happy with the progression. I feel like there’s a lot more in the tank that I’m holding back right now, which is a good thing. Obviously I don’t want to push too hard until they say it’s time to go, but right now I feel really good.”
NOTES
The Angels began holding workouts in Tempe Diablo Stadium, instead of at the minor-league facility, in preparation for the first exhibition game, on Friday against the Seattle Mariners. …
Jack Kochanowicz is scheduled to start on the mound for the Angels on Friday. The starting lineup for the first game is scheduled to include outfielders Taylor Ward, Jo Adell and Mickey Moniak, first baseman Nolan Schanuel, catcher Logan O’Hoppe and DH Jorge Soler, Washington said.