Halos Today

Angels Lose Pitcher on Waiver Claim to National League Foe

J.P. Hoornstra

Angels pitcher Michael Darrell-Hicks warms up during spring training camp on Feb. 16.
Angels pitcher Michael Darrell-Hicks warms up during spring training camp on Feb. 16. / Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
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As part of their early-season quest to find a suitable bridge to closer Kenley Jansen, the Angels cycled through a host of middle relievers with varying degrees of success.

Michael Darrell-Hicks' six-game audition was not good enough to secure a long-term spot in the bullpen. He allowed 10 hits and eight runs across 7.2 innings. He hasn't been seen in Anaheim since allowing three runs in one inning of work on May 4 against the Detroit Tigers.

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The Angels sent Darrell-Hicks back to Triple-A Salt Lake to iron out his issues. His next chance in the big leagues, however, likely won't come with the Angels.

The Pittsburgh Pirates claimed Darrell-Hicks off waivers Friday and assigned him to Triple-A Indianapolis. The 27-year-old right-hander had been in limbo for five days, after being designated for assignment Sunday.

The loss of Darrell-Hicks comes on the same day the Angels selected the contract of second baseman Christian Moore, the top prospect in the organization, and designated another reliever, Shaun Anderson, for assignment.

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The loss of Darrell-Hicks, combined with the potential loss of Anderson, is more likely to impact the Angels' top farm team than the club in Anaheim. Darrell-Hicks recorded the save in Salt Lake's win over the Round Rock Express on June 6, two days before he was designated for assignment.

In 17 games with the Bees, that was Darrell-Hicks' only save. He was 0-2 with an 8.87 ERA, having allowed 33 hits and 22 runs in 22.1 innings (8.87 ERA).

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Earlier Friday, the Angels recalled Sam Bachman from Salt Lake, where he had a 0.79 ERA in 13 games. The former first-round draft pick began the season on the injured list with thoracic outlet syndrome, and figured to be a key part of the Angels' pitching staff once healthy.

Darrell-Hicks was never a highly ranked prospect after the Angels signed him as an undrafted free agent out of Jacksonville University in 2022. Darrell-Hicks had a solid 30-game stint last year with Double-A Rocket City. He allowed just 34 hits and eight earned runs (1.73 ERA) in 41.2 innings while striking out 46 batters.

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But he could not repeat that success at Triple-A or in the big leagues. As a non-roster invitee, Darrell-Hicks made six appearances for the Angels in spring training. He posted a 4.50 ERA (six innings pitched, three runs), walked two batters and struck out eight.

After beginning the regular season with the Bees, Darrell-Hicks had his contract selected by the Angels a week later and made his major league debut on April 11.

More to come on this story from Angels on SI.

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J.P. Hoornstra
J.P. HOORNSTRA

J.P. Hoornstra is an On SI Contributor. A veteran of 20 years of sports coverage for daily newspapers in California, J.P. covered MLB, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Los Angeles Angels (occasionally of Anaheim) from 2012-23 for the Southern California News Group. His first book, The 50 Greatest Dodgers Games of All-Time, published in 2015. In 2016, he won an Associated Press Sports Editors award for breaking news coverage. He once recorded a keyboard solo on the same album as two of the original Doors.

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