Fantasy News

• Angels' Michael Stefanic: Moving closer to return

  Rotowire Apr 23, 2024

  Stefanic (quadriceps) has been taking ground balls and batting practice, and he is scheduled to resume his running progression Tuesday, per MLB.com. Stefanic landed on the injured list March 28 after straining his left quad in his first Cactus League contest in late February. The 28-year-old's progress toward a return was slowed by a setback in mid-March, but he appears to be back on the road to recovery. Stefanic could feasibly be ready to resume game action by the end of April, though he will likely need a minor-league rehab assignment given that he logged only one plate appearance in spring training.

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• Angels' Michael Stefanic: Resumes baseball activity

  Rotowire Mar 31, 2024

  Stefanic (quadriceps) has resumed light baseball activity at the Angels' training complex in Arizona, MLB.com reports. Stefanic landed on the injured list March 28 after feeling discomfort in his left quad during the Angels' first spring training game. He initially resumed running and baseball activity but suffered a setback in mid-March and subsequently underwent an MRI that revealed a quad strain. It's unclear how long Stefanic will be out of action, and there's no guarantee that he'll have a spot on the big-league roster once he's ready to return.

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• Angels' Michael Stefanic: Lands on 10-day IL

  Rotowire Mar 28, 2024

  The Angels placed Stefanic (quadricep) on the 10-day injured list Thursday. Stefanic initially strained his left quad in late February and suffered a setback last week. It's not clear at this point how long the utility infielder might be sidelined.

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• Angels' Michael Stefanic: Resumes baseball activity

  Rotowire Feb 28, 2024

  Stefanic (quadricep) was cleared to resume baseball activities Wednesday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. Stefanic had been resting for the previous three days after he suffered a left quad strain in Saturday's Cactus League game against the Dodgers. Given the brevity of his shutdown period, Stefanic likely won't require too much time to get ramped back up, so he could rejoin the spring lineup within the next few days.

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• Angels' Michael Stefanic: Getting regular run in infield

  Rotowire Sep 25, 2023

  Stefanic will start at second base and bat ninth in Monday's game against the Rangers, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. He'll stick in the lineup for the sixth game in a row and appears poised to receive steady playing time over the final week of the regular season in what could amount to an audition for an everyday role heading into the 2023 campaign. Since being called up from Triple-A Salt Lake a week ago, Stefanic has gone 8-for-18 with a double, a walk, a run and an RBI.

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• Angels' Michael Stefanic: Returns to minors

  Rotowire Sep 6, 2023

  Stefanic was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake on Wednesday. Stefanic was recalled by the Halos on Friday and will return to Salt Lake after going 0-for-6 with two walks and a run in three games during the brief stint in the majors. The 27-year-old has a .488 OPS in 33 big-league plate appearances this season.

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• Angels' Michael Stefanic: Recalled from Triple-A

  Rotowire Sep 1, 2023

  The Angels recalled Stefanic from Triple-A Salt Lake on Friday. Stefanic will likely operate as a backup on the Angels' infield as he returns to the majors with rosters expanding from 26 to 28. The 27-year-old carries a .195/.290/.232 career slash line in 94 plate appearances at baseball's highest level.

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• Angels' Michael Stefanic: Optioned to Triple-A

  Rotowire Aug 1, 2023

  Stefanic was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake on Tuesday. Stefanic has always been known for a strong hit tool and little else, and while he hit .349 at Triple-A this season, he only hit .190 with zero home runs in 25 MLB plate appearances. He was replaced on the active roster by Jordyn Adams.

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• Angels' Michael Stefanic: Sporting season-long on-base streak

  Rotowire May 27, 2023

  Stefanic is slashing .331/.438/.416 through 42 games this season with Triple-A Salt Lake, and he's reached base in every contest in which he's played. Stefanic's on-base streak is actually at 51 extending back to last season, when he hit .314 with a .422 on-base percentage for the Triple-A club. The 27-year-old has proven to be a difficult out with a .401 OBP across 364 career minor-league contests, though he struggled in his first taste of the majors last year, slashing .197/.279/.230 over 69 plate appearances. Stefanic's ability to reach base could earn him another chance in the big leagues at some point, but his absence of power and speed limit his appeal as a future fantasy asset.

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• Angels' Michael Stefanic: Optioned to minors

  Rotowire Mar 11, 2023

  Stefanic was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake on Saturday. Stefanic got a modest look in his first taste of MLB action last season, logging 69 plate appearances over 25 games. However, he managed a meager .197/.279/.230 slash line, well off the .314/.422/.425 line he posted at the Triple-A level. Stefanic is an extreme contact hitter but offers little in the way of power or speed, so he doesn't figure to ever be an impactful fantasy asset. The Angels have multiple infielders returning from injury this season and also added Brandon Drury and Gio Urshela in the offseason, so Stefanic faces a difficult path back to the big leagues.

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• Angels' Michael Stefanic: On bench again

  Rotowire Sep 21, 2022

  Stefanic is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rangers, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. Stefanic will sit for the third game in a row and appears to have lost out on an everyday role in the middle infield to fellow rookie Livan Soto. The 26-year-old rookie has gotten off to a disappointing start to his big-league career, producing a .459 OPS through his first 57 plate appearances with the Angels.

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• Angels' Michael Stefanic: Sitting after three straight starts

  Rotowire Sep 19, 2022

  Stefanic is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mariners, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. He'll give way in the middle infield Monday to Livan Soto, who is being rewarded with a second straight start after going 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBI and an additional run in Sunday's 5-1. Stefanic had produced two hits in eight at-bats while starting in each of the previous three contests, and with David Fletcher (hand) recently joining Andrew Velazquez (knee) on the injured list, the rookie should have a fairly clear path to playing time over the final two and a half weeks of the season.

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• Angels' Michael Stefanic: Returns to action Friday

  Rotowire Sep 3, 2022

  Stefanic (back) went 1-for-3 with a double, two walks, a run and an RBI for Triple-A Salt Lake on Friday. Stefanic missed a few games earlier this week due to back spasms, but he was back as the Bees' designated hitter Friday. The 26-year-old has shown excellent on-base skills in the minors this season, slashing .293/.401/.371 in 68 contests at the Triple-A level. However, he struggled in a 16-game stint in the majors in July, batting a paltry .167 with only one extra-base hit over 42 at-bats.

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• Angels' Michael Stefanic: Returns to minors

  Rotowire Jul 28, 2022

  Stefanic was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake on Thursday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. Stefanic started off strong after making his big-league debut in early July with a .944 OPS in his first seven games, but the honeymoon ended quickly as he went hitless in his past nine contests. David Fletcher (hip) was reinstated from the 60-day injured list in a corresponding move and will reclaim a starting role for the Angels. Stefanic could receive another chance with the Halos later in the year, but for now he'll attempt to straighten things out in the minors.

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• Angels' Michael Stefanic: Steps out of lineup

  Rotowire Jul 13, 2022

  Stefanic is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Astros, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports. Stefanic started the past six games and jumped up to the leadoff spot Tuesday, but he'll receive a day off after going 0-for-4 with a walk and a run scored. He's off to a strong start through eight big-league games with an .808 OPS.

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• Angels' Michael Stefanic: Leading off Tuesday

  Rotowire Jul 12, 2022

  Stefanic will play second base and lead off Tuesday against the Astros, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports. Stefanic has not hit higher than sixth since making his big-league debut earlier this month, but he will get a shot atop the batting order after reaching base 10 times over his last five games.

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• Angels' Michael Stefanic: Reaches four times Sunday

  Rotowire Jul 11, 2022

  Stefanic went 2-for-2 with two walks and a run in Sunday's loss to Baltimore. Stefanic reached base in all four of his plate appearances in the loss, and he scored a run in the third inning on a Monte Harrison home run. Stefanic has only one extra-base hit (a double) in 22 plate appearances, but he's shown an astute ability to get on base with a .389 average and .500 OBP over 22 plate appearances. His major-league skill set has thus far proven to be in line with what he showed in the minors; over 210 plate appearances with Triple-A Salt Lake this season, the 26-year-old slashed .320/.410/.399 but had only 10 extra-base hits among his 57 total hits while posting a 25:12 BB:K.

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• Angels' Michael Stefanic: Heads to bench Tuesday

  Rotowire Jul 5, 2022

  Stefanic is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Marlins, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. Stefanic will take a seat after he struck out in all three of his at-bats in his MLB debut in Sunday's 4-2 loss to the Astros. Interim manager Phil Nevin suggested that Stefanic will receive an opportunity to play on a regular basis, but the rookie will still find himself on the bench for the series opener in Miami nonetheless. Luis Rengifo and Andrew Velazquez will serve as the Halos' starters in the middle infield Tuesday.

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• Angels' Michael Stefanic: Returns to action at Triple-A

  Rotowire May 1, 2022

  Stefanic, who hadn't played at Triple-A Salt Lake since April 21 due to an unspecified injury, returned to the lineup for Sunday's 9-4 loss to Round Rock. He started at second base and went 0-for-2 with two walks. Stefanic doesn't possess a spot on the Angels' 40-man roster, but since he's not a young prospect at 26 years old, the organization likely won't hesitate to promote him if his performance at Triple-A warrants a call-up. He's turned in a .781 OPS through his first 14 games, making him a solidly above-average contributor in the Pacific Coast League.

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