Angels See Eduardo Paredes In Bullpen

ANAHEIM—The Angels added 21-year-old reliever Eduardo Paredes to the 40-man roster because “he could impact the big league team next year, and we didn’t want to risk losing that,” farm director Mike LaCassa said. “I think he has a chance to be a winning piece to our bullpen.”

Paredes, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound righthander who signed out of Venezuela in 2012, features a lively fastball that averages 94-95 mph and touches 98 mph. He delivers the pitch, which has some running and sinking action, out of a lower arm slot that adds deception.

Paredes split last season between high Class A Inland Empire and Double-A Arkansas, going a combined 1-5, 3.33 with 12 saves in 54 games, striking out 75 and walking 20 in 70.1 innings.

“He sets up in a crouch like Craig Kimbrel, and he has the kind of attitude out there where he wants to be Craig Kimbrel,” LaCassa said. “He goes right at hitters. He’s not scared. He has a lot of flare to him. That’s his personality. He has fun and he’s a good teammate, but when he’s on the mound, he’s ready to attack.”

Paredes’ primary secondary pitch is a slider that he throws in the low 80s and acts more like a slurve with depth than a traditonal hard, cutting slider. His changup is improving.

His command has been consistently good, and as he fills out he could add a tick or two of velocity to his fastball.

Paredes will likely start next season at Arkansas but should be at Triple-A Salt Lake by midseason, putting him an injury or a slump away from the big leagues.

“We like to put him in situations where he can pitch in a variety of roles,” LaCassa said. “He’s had some multi-inning outings, sometimes he comes into game with runner on base in the seventh inning. We’re excited to see what he can do in 2017.”

ANGEL FOOD

• A pair of former big leaguers has been hired to the minor league staff, with utilityman David Newhan, the Tigers’ assistant hitting coach in 2016, taking over as infield coordinator and outfielder Jeremy Reed, who recently worked in the Brewers system, taking over as hitting coordinator.

• Catcher Taylor Ward, a first-round pick out of Fresno State in 2015, had the best Arizona Fall League season of any Angels prospect, slashing .283/.321/.377 with five doubles and nine RBIs in 16 games.