Christian Moore Steps Away from Lineup as Angels Navigate Slump and Roster Moves

ANAHEIM — Christian Moore’s brief resurgence came with a caveat. After ending a 0-for-21 skid the previous day, the Angels second baseman was out of the lineup again, though not because of injury. Kurt Suzuki described it as a “work day” dedicated to locking in mechanical adjustments with the hitting coaches.

Moore Steps Out of Lineup to Refine Adjustments

Moore, 23, entered the season as the Angels’ 2024 first-round pick but has struggled to translate minor-league success to the majors. He was hitting .165 with a .459 OPS across 118 plate appearances, striking out in 33% of his trips to the plate. Suzuki emphasized that controlling the strike zone and maintaining a consistent bat path remain the priorities.

“I thought C-Mo had a great game last night,” Suzuki said. “I know he struck out that one time, but I thought the quality of the swings… He had that nice base hit against a tough righty to center field.”

Ballesteros Cools Off After Trade, Finds Discipline at the Plate

Moisés Ballesteros, 22, has emerged from a slow start post-trade to post a .357 average and 1.003 OPS since September 1. The catcher, acquired from the Cubs in the Ryan Zeferjahn deal, had hit just .163 with a .410 OPS in his first 24 games after the trade. Suzuki credited Ballesteros’s personality and improved discipline, noting reduced chase rates on offspeed and breaking pitches.

“When you come to a new team, get a little anxious,” Suzuki said. “You want to do everything. You want to do good so much that you put too much pressure on yourself. I think now he’s settling in and we’re seeing the guy that we all believe he can be.”

Klassen’s Rookie Season Ends Early with Back Injury

George Klassen, 24, will not pitch again in 2024. The right-hander, who finished with a 3.67 ERA over six major-league starts, threw bullpen sessions on Tuesday and Friday but felt no need to rush him back. Suzuki praised Klassen’s second promotion stint, when he relied heavily on his slider and improved zone discipline, posting a 2.01 ERA in four August starts.

Trout Repeats as MVP; Ureña Makes History with Adenhart Award

Angels players voted Mike Trout as team MVP for the 10th time. Walbert Ureña earned the Nick Adenhart Pitcher of the Year, becoming the first rookie pitcher to receive the honor.

Angels Host Twins in Sunday Afternoon Finales

The Angels close the series against Minnesota on Sunday.

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