The Angels recalled Lugo from Triple-A Salt Lake on Monday.
With the Angels placing third baseman Yoan Moncada (knee) going on the injured list in a corresponding move, Lugo is eligible to rejoin the big club ahead of Monday's game in Boston, despite being optioned to Triple-A just four days earlier. Lugo is capable of playing all three outfield spots but will likely find playing time difficult to come by while all of Mike Trout, Jorge Soler, Taylor Ward and Jo Adell are available.
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Angels' Matthew Lugo: Bumped to minors
Rotowire
Lugo was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake on Thursday.
He has slowly lost his grip on regular playing time, and the addition of Chris Taylor has further crowded the Angels' outfield. Lugo will benefit from more regular playing time at Salt Lake and look to get back on track after going hitless in his last 14 at-bats prior to being demoted.
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Angels' Matthew Lugo: Out of Halos' lineup
Rotowire
Lugo is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game versus the Athletics.
After a stretch with five straight starts -- four of them coming in center field -- Lugo has now been on the bench twice in three games. It will be Kyren Paris in center field and batting ninth for the Angels in Thursday's series finale.
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Angels' Matthew Lugo: On bench Tuesday
Rotowire
Lugo isn't in the Angels' lineup Tuesday against the Athletics.
Prior to Tuesday, Lugo had started in five consecutive games. In that stretch, he went 6-for-19 with a home run and two RBI. However, he struck out eight times and did not manage a walk in that span. While the rookie has been hitting the ball well, he will get some rest Tuesday with Kyren Paris starting in center field.
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Angels' Matthew Lugo: Two extra-base hits Saturday
Rotowire
Lugo went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and an RBI double in Saturday's 11-9 win over the Dodgers.
Lugo was in the lineup for the fourth time in five games, which includes him starting each of the last three contests in center field over Kyren Paris. Lugo has earned the opportunity, batting .381 with three homers and six RBI over his first eight major-league games. As long as he hits well, he should maintain a large share of playing time in the Angels' outfield, though Lugo's role could be reduced once Mike Trout (knee) is able to return.
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Angels' Matthew Lugo: Homers off bench again
Rotowire
Lugo hit a two-run home run as a pinch hitter in Tuesday's 6-4 loss to the Padres.
Lugo is already showing some talent off the bench -- he's homered twice as a pinch hitter in the last three days. All three of his major-league hits over five games have gone for extra bases (two homers, one triple), and he's added three RBI and four strikeouts. Lugo's carving out a part-time role in the outfield, having started two of the last four games. Both of his starts have come in left field, pushing Taylor Ward to designated hitter. The Angels' outfield has exclusively featured right-handed hitters, so it's unlikely a platoon situation develops, but Lugo's performance in a limited role could help him earn more looks.
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Angels' Matthew Lugo: Crushes pinch-hit home run
Rotowire
Lugo went 1-for-1 with a solo home run in Sunday's loss to the Orioles.
Lugo stepped up to the plate as a pinch hitter in the ninth and delivered a 421-foot solo homer to left field. His first two major-league hits have now been an RBI triple and a solo home run in three games. It's still hard to envision Lugo carving out more consistent at-bats in the short term, but he definitely made some noise this past weekend and could be afforded some extra looks.
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Angels' Matthew Lugo: Delivers RBI triple for first MLB hit
Rotowire
Lugo went 1-for-4 with an RBI triple in Saturday's 5-2 win over the Orioles.
Lugo made his first career start Saturday, patrolling left field and batting ninth after making his major-league debut as a pinch runner Friday. The 24-year-old needed just two at-bats to deliver his first big-league hit, an RBI triple that stretched the Angels' lead to 4-0 in the fourth inning. It's unclear how much playing time Lugo will be able to carve out while the Angels contend with the absences of Mike Trout (knee) and Gustavo Campero (ankle). Given abysmal offensive performance from the team's outfielders, the opportunity for Lugo to steal a job is there.
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Angels' Matthew Lugo: Heading to majors
Rotowire
The Angels recalled Lugo from Triple-A Salt Lake on Friday.
Lugo wasn't able to make the Angels' Opening Day roster, but he's now on the 26-man roster following Gustavo Campero's placement on the 10-day injured list due to left ankle inflammation. Lugo was acquired by the Angels from the Red Sox in July, and in Triple-A this season he is slashing .212/.292/.364 with two stolen bases, 22 runs scored, four home runs and 18 RBI in 168 plate appearances. With Campero and Mike Trout (knee) both on the IL, Lugo should have an opportunity to see some playing time in the outfield as a defensive substitute for Kyren Paris, Taylor Ward and Jo Adell.
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Angels' Matthew Lugo: Not part of Opening Day roster
Rotowire
The Angels optioned Lugo to Triple-A Salt Lake on Wednesday.
The Angels' recent history of aggressively promoting prospects coupled with the release of Mickey Moniak on Tuesday fueled speculation that Lugo might break camp with the big club, but Los Angeles instead elected to carry Kyren Paris as a fourth outfielder on the Opening Day roster. The 23-year-old Lugo shouldn't have to wait long to make his MLB debut, especially if he continues to produce well at the plate with Salt Lake early on in the season after he held his own during spring training. Though he struck out at 29.5 percent clip and had a 3.3 percent walk rate over 61 plate appearances in the Cactus League, Lugo hit .293 with seven extra-base hits (four doubles, three triples) and two stolen bases.
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Angels' Matthew Lugo: Looks healthy for spring
Rotowire
Lugo (hand) will start in left field and bat fifth in Thursday's Cactus League game against the Cubs, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
Lugo didn't play after Aug. 2 this past season due to a hand injury, but he received an invitation to big-league spring training and hasn't shown any signs of being limited during camp. He'll be playing in his fourth Cactus League game Thursday after going 4-for-9 with an RBI through his first three contests. The 23-year-old outfielder is one of the Angels' top prospects, but he has yet to make his MLB debut and doesn't appear to be a serious candidate for the Opening Day roster.
The Angels selected Lugo (hand) to their 40-man roster Tuesday.
The Angels acquired Lugo in the trade that sent Luis Garcia to Boston at the deadline, though the former was only able to play one game in the Angels organization before a hand injury cut his season short in early August. Now that he's on the 40-man roster, the 23-year-old outfielder will be protected from the Rule 5 Draft, and the lack of depth in Los Angeles' outfield unit could allow him to make his MLB debut in 2025.
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Angels' Matthew Lugo: Shut down with apparent hand injury
Rotowire
Triple-A Salt Lake transferred Lugo from its 7-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Thursday while he recovers from an apparent hand injury, Jared Tims of TalkinHalos.com reports.
The Angels aren't required to shed light on Lugo's injury, but Tims suggests that the outfielder hurt his thumb while trying to make a defensive play in his organizational debut Aug. 2. Lugo, whom the Angels acquired from the Red Sox ahead of the trade deadline, went 2-for-5 with a home run and a double in his lone game for Salt Lake and will now be shut down for the season as a result of moving to the 60-day IL.
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Angels' Matthew Lugo: Out with undisclosed injury
Rotowire
Lugo, who is on the 7-day injured list at Triple-A Salt Lake due to an undisclosed injury, has not played since Aug. 2.
He made a strong first impression, going 2-for-5 with a home run and a double in his first game for the Bees after getting traded to the Angels from the Red Sox at the deadline as part of the return for reliever Luis Garcia. However, Lugo has not seen the field since that debut game. Depending on the injury, the trade should make it easier for the 23-year-old left fielder to get a look in the majors either late this season or early next season. He is slashing .287/.376/.578 with a 23.6 percent strikeout rate, a 10.2 percent walk rate, 17 home runs and 16 steals in 79 games split between Double-A and Triple-A.
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Angels' Matthew Lugo: Dealt to Halos
Rotowire
The Angels acquired Lugo, infielder Niko Kavadas and right-handers Ryan Zeferjahn and Yeferson Vargas from the Red Sox on Tuesday in exchange for right-hander Luis Garcia, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.
Lugo broke out in the upper levels of the minors this season, slashing .285/.375/.567 with 16 home runs, 16 steals, a 35.4 percent hard-hit rate and a 23.9 percent strikeout rate in 78 games across Double-A and Triple-A. A shortstop when he was selected in the second round of the 2019 First-Year Player Draft, Lugo has slid down the defensive spectrum and primarily played left field this season as a 23-year-old. Given that it would have been difficult for the right-handed hitter to get an opportunity as an everyday player in Boston anytime soon, this trade boosts his dynasty value slightly, as it should be easier for him to get a look on the second-division Angels.
The Red Sox promoted Lugo from Double-A Portland to Triple-A Worcester on Sunday, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.
Lugo will move up a level after producing a .317 average with 24 extra-base hits, 35 RBI, 25 runs scored and nine stolen bases over 168 plate appearances in 42 games with Portland. The 23-year-old will look to impress with Worcester and could be in store for a late-season call-up to Boston if he does.
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Red Sox's Matthew Lugo: Sent down to minors camp
Rotowire
Lugo was re-assigned to minor-league camp Sunday.
Lugo was never really in the running for the Opening Day roster, but the Red Sox gave one of their top prospects a look at MLB camp to open the spring. After posting an .830 OPS with 18 homers and 20 steals over 117 games between High-A Greenville and Double-A Portland, it's possible the infielder could work his way into Boston's plans this summer with a hot start for the 2023 campaign.
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Red Sox's Matthew Lugo: Gets invite to MLB camp
Rotowire
Lugo received an invitation to major-league spring training Wednesday.
Lugo isn't in the running for an Opening Day roster spot, but he can use this opportunity to showcase his skills to the big-league staff. Selected in the second round of the 2019 MLB Draft out of a high school in Puerto Rico, the 21-year-old infield prospect put up an .830 OPS with 18 home runs and 20 stolen bases in 117 games last season between High-A Greenville and Double-A Portland. There's a good amount of long-term fantasy upside in his skill set.
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