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
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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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Red Sox's Matthew Lugo: Hitting well in High-A
Rotowire
Lugo is hitting .313/.371/.563 with five homers, six steals and a 10:30 BB:K across 35 games for High-A Greenville.
Lugo had a tough start to his pro career, as he didn't hit especially well in rookie ball in 2019, lost out on the canceled 2020 season, and didn't really pop in Low-A last season (.702 OPS, 15 steals). This season has been different, though, as the 21-year-old has started hitting the ball with authority. It also doesn't hurt that he's got good baseball genes as Carlos Beltran's nephew. It's time to act on him in deeper dynasty formats.
